



em(MKeo 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



CIVIL GOVERNMENT 



OF 



ILLINOIS AND THE U.S. 



SPECIAL CHAPTERS 



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CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY 



BRIEF HISTORICAL SKE1GHES. 



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1?\ 

EDWIN C. CRAWFORD, 

Member of the Chicago Bar. 



CHICAGO: 
GEORGE SHERWOOD & COMPANY. 



Copyright, 1890, by George Sherwood & Co. 



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1 



PREFACE. 



The objects of this book are : 

To describe in detail every part of the machinery of 
government of the State of Illinois, and of each political 
sub-division of the State. 

. To state briefly all the important duties of every 
public officer in the State of Illinois. 

To outline the government of the United States. 

]t has been written with especial reference to the 
wants of teachers and students, and officers of school 
districts and townships. 

It is believed that it will be welcomed by all who 
desire to be intelligent as to the government in which 
they are most directly interested, namely, that of their 
own state, county, township and school district. 

e. c. a 

Chicago, October 30, 1882. 



PREFACE TO EDITION OF 1890. 



The centennial period of the nation has developed new 
interest in the history of the country. 

The brief historical sketches following, have been 
added to this book to aid in fostering such interest ; 
also, to suggest to Illinois students the importance of 
their own State's history in relation to that of the other 
States of the Union. 

How to govern cities and other thickly populated 
districts, wisely, is a question that becomes constantly 
more important, and more difficult to answer. 

It is believed that Chicago and Cook County have 
attained a degree of efficiency in self-government that will 
repay careful attention. Hence the addition of the 
sections following, on the government of Chicago and 
Cook County. 

E. C. C. 
Chicago, March 15, 1890. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE, 

Forms of Government, - 7 

History of Illinois, - - - 8-17 

First Settlement in Illinois, ------- 9 

Organization as a Territory, ------ io 

Organization as a State. -------- 11 

Illinois in the Civil War, - 1G 

History of Chicago, - 19-25 

Chicago in the Civil War. ---.--. 22 

The Fire of 1871, - 24 

Government of Chicago, ------- 27-55 

Mayor, Aldermen, Clerk, 28-29 

Department of Finance, - 30 

Comptroller, Treasurer, 31 

Collector, 32 

Department of Public Works, .-__-- 32-33 

Department of Public Buildings, ----- 33-35 

Department of Law, - - - - - - - - 35-36 

Police Courts, - 36-37 

House of Correction, - - - 38 

Department of Health, ------- 39 

Department of Police, - 41 

Fire Department, -------- 42 

Inspectors of Food, etc., 44 

Election Commissioners, ---._._ 45 

The Public Schools, 46-51 

The Board of Education, 46 

The Superintendent of Schools, and other Employes of the 

Board, and Their Duties, 47-49 

Compulsory Education, - 51 

The Public Library, 52 

The Parks, 53 

Chicago Sanitary District, ------- 51 

Cook Countv, - 56 

The County'Board, - 56-57 

President of Board, -------- 57 

Employes of the Board and Their Duties, - 58-59 

County Charitable Institutions, - 60 

County Officers not Emplo} r es of the County Board, - - 62 

Duties of Such Officers, 64-68 

Courts of Cook County, ------- 6> 

I. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. 

School Directors, their Election, Powers and Duties, - 70 

How School Districts Receive their Share of the State Fund, 72 

4 



TARLE OF CONTENTS. 5 

PAGE. 

How Districts may be Divided, 72 

Transferring Pupils from one District to another, - 73 

II. THE TOWN. 

Town and Township Distinguished, 73 

Town Officers, their Terms of Office, ----- 74 

Town Meeting, - -------- 75 

Its Organization for Business, .--..- 75 

Powers and Duties of Voters at Town Meeting, - 77 

Oath and Bonds of Town Officers. ------ 78 

Town Boards their Powers and Duties, - - - - 79 

Town Supervisors, their Powers and Duties, - 80 

Town Clerk, his Powers and Duties, ----- 80 

Assessor and Collector, their Powers and Duties, - - -81 

School Trustees, their Powers and Duties, - - - - 81 

School Treasurer, his Powers and Duties, - 81 
Highway Commissioners and Overseers, their Powers and 

Duties, - - - 82 

Pound Master and Commissioner of Canada Thistles, - - 83 

Justices of the Peace and Constables, ----- 33 

Civil Causes, Criminal Causes, - 83 

Holding to Bail, --------- 84 

Pay of Town Officers, - o4 

Special Town Meeting, 84 

The Nature of Town Government, ------ #5 

Officers of Townships, ------- 8G 

III. THE COUNTY. 

COUNTIES UNDER TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. 

County Officers, Terms of Office, 87 

The County Board, Powers and Duties, - 87 

The Grand Jury, - 89 

The Petit Jury, - 90 

County and Probate Courts, - 90 

County and Probate Judges, their Duties, - 91 

County Clerk, his Duties, 92 

Sheriff, his Duties, 92 

State's Attorney, his Duties, 93 

Coroner, his Duties, 93 

Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds, their Duties, - - 94 

Deeds, Recording Deeds, Mortgages, ----- 95 

County Treasurer, his Duties, 95 

Superintendent of Schools, his Duties, -. 96 

Departments of County Government, ----- 97 

COUNTIES NOT UNDEK TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. 97 

Compensation, Bonds, and Oath of County Officers,- - 98 



IV. THE STATE. 



The Legislature, - 

Election of Members of the Legislature, 



99 



6 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Meeting of the -Legislating 99 

Duties of Lieutenant-Governor and Speaker, - - - 100 

Duties of the Legislature. - - - - - - - 100 

Executive Department of the State, - - - - - 101 

The Governor, his Duties, Pay, etc., 101 

If Governor's Office Becomes Vacant, Who Succeeds, - 102 

Secretary of State, his Duties, Pay, etc., - - - - . 103 

Auditor, his Duties, Pay. etc., 104 

State Treasurer, his Duties. Pay, etc.. 104 

Superintendent of Puhlic Instruction his Duties, Pay, etc. , 105 

Attorney-General, his Duties, Pay, etc., ... - 105 

Returning Board, 106 

Appointed State Officers, 107 

Officers Appointed by Governor with Consent of the Senate, 107 

Officers Appointed by Governor Alone, - - - - - 107 

Duties, Pay, etc., of Former Officers, - - - - 108 

Duties Pay, etc., of Latter Officers, - - - - 110 

State Militia, - Ill 

Judicial Department, - - - 111 

Circuit Courts, Ill 

Circuit Court Officers, - - - - - - - - 111 

Appellate Courts, 112 

The Supreme Court of the State. 113 

Pay of Officers of the Judicial Department, - - - 113 

Y. CITIES. 

Their Government, - 114 

Officers of Cities, their Duties and Pay, - - - - 114 

VI. VILLAGES. 

Their Government. Their Officers, lift 

VII. GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Congress, - 117 

Executive Department of the United States - - - - 119 

Judicial Department of the United States, - - - - 12G 

Army and Navy of the United States, ----- 121 

Civil Service of the United States, 121 

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 

National Political Conventions, 122 

Counties comprising the Congressional Districts of Illinois, 124 
Counties comprising the Senatorial Districts of Illinois, - 126 
Counties comprising the State Supreme Court Grand Di- 
visions - 128 

Counties comprising the State Supreme Court Election Dis- 
tricts. .... ... 129 

Counties comprising the Appellate Court Distric s, - - 130 

Counties comprising the Circuit Courts, - 130 

The Constitution of the State of Illinois, - - - - 132 

The Constitution of the United States, - - - 179 

The Declaration of Independence, 198 



CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 



GOVERNMENT. 

The word government means regulation and con- 
trol. Good government begins within ourselves. If 
we learn to regulate and control our own thoughts 
and acts, we shall be fitted to help govern others. 

The first duty of the citizen is private, and con- 
sists in learning to govern himself. His next duty is 
public. It consists (partly) in voting for good laws 
and good officers, and in sustaining the officers while 
they execute the laws. 

The simplest form of civil government is illus- 
trated by the "Town Meeting." This is an assembly 
of all the voters of a town, to discuss the business 
of the town, and enact town laws. Such a government 
is a democracy. [See page 75.] 

A republican government is one in which laws 
are made by representatives chosen by those having 
a right to vote. 

A State Legislature, or a City Council, illustrates 
such a government. [See page 28. J 

The government to which we should give most at- 
tention (after the government of ourselves), is that of 
the community in which we live. And we should learn 
not only its present form and method of operation, 
but the history of its development from the beginning. 
Hence, Illinois students of Civil Government should 
begin with a study of the history of their own state. 

7 



CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 



HISTOEY OF ILLINOIS. 

Before the middle of the 17th Century, the French 
colonists in Canada had heard about a great river 
— the "Messipi," the Indians called it — which it 
was believed flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, or, per- 
haps, to Japan or China. 

The Indians said its valley abounded in fur-bear- 
ing and great numbers of other valuable animals. 
Thus the French were led to form a strong desire to 
explore it and barter with the natives for its pro- 
ducts. 

Authority was obtained from the King of France, 
Louis XIV, by several persons, to make such explora- 
tions. 

Among these was Sieur de LaSalle, who, in 1671, 
led the first party into the region now known as the 
State of Illinois. Entering it at the southern end of 
Lake Michigan, his party made their way to the Kan- 
kakee River, placed their canoes in it and paddled 
down to the Illinois River, and down this, probably, 
to its mouth. 

In 1673, Marquette and Joliet, a Jesuit mission- 
ary and a trader, ascended the Illinois from the Mis- 
sissippi to a point about seven miles below the present 
city of Ottawa, and thence crossed the country to 
Green Bay. 



Crawford's civile government. 9 

In 1079, LaSalle again led a party clown the Illi- 
nois, and, early in 1680, built Fort Creveeoeur and 
established a colony on the river a short distance 
from the site of the present city of Peoria. 

This was the first civilized settlement made in the 
territory now composing the State; and it was the 
beginning of a scheme of colonization, conceived by 
LaSalle and encouraged by Louis XIV, which was in- 
tended to make the whole Mississippi valley tributary 
to France. 

4n 1682, LaSalle again descended the Illinois, 
and also passed down the Mississippi to its mouths. 
At the beginning of the delta of the Mississippi he 
erected a column, and, in the name of Louis XIV, 
took possession of the basin of the great river and its 
tributaries, naming the region " Louisiana." 

On his return, he built a fort at " Starved Rock," 
on the Illinois, and established a colony there. He 
also established colonies at Kaskaskia, Cahokia, 
and other places. He planned to establish a chain 
of forts and colonies, along the whole extent of the 
Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, to carry on trade 
with the Indians, and to secure their alliance against 
the danger of encroachments by the colonies of Eng- 
land and Holland on the eastern border of the conti- 
nent. 

Other colonies followed those started by LaSalle, 
till, in the middle of the 18th Century, the Illinois 
territory contained several thousand French settlers, 
who were generally in a prosperous condition. Trav- 
elers visiting them, on returning to France, called the 
country "a new Paradise." 



10 ckawford's civil government. 

But English colonists had come also, and disputes 
began to arise about boundaries, which led to war be- 
tween France and England, and at its close, England 
became owner of a vast region formerly claimed by 
France, including the territory composing the present 
State of Illinois. 

During* the next fifty years most of the new set- 
tlers in Illinois came from Virginia and Kentucky, 
and from the French settlements on the Mississippi 
River. Nearly all of the settlers of this period loca- 
ted in the southern half of the State. m 

Iii 1804, Fort Dearborn was built near the mouth 
of the Chicago River. Burned by Indians during the 
war of 1812, it was rebuilt in 1816. 

About fifteen years later, immigrants began to 
settle in the northern part of the territory, most of 
them coming from the Eastern and Northern States. 

Illinois, after passing' into the possession of Eng- 
land, was considered a part of Virginia, and was 
organized as a county of Virginia in 1778. 

In 1787, Virginia ceded to the United States all 
its land situated northwest of the Ohio River. 

The Act of cession is known as the '• Ordinance 
of 1787." One of its provisions was, that slavery 
should never be permitted in the region ceded. 

Congress created the Territory of Illinois in the 
year 1809. 

On the 12th day of February, in the same year, a 
child was born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Ken- 
tucky, who was destined to make the future State 
famous above all its sisters, as the home of the saviour 



Crawford's civil government. 11 

of the Union and the liberator of a race of slaves. The 
child was Abraham Lincoln. 

The northern line of the Territory ran from the 
southern point of Lake Michigan due west to the 
Mississippi River. Thus, the Territory was without a 
harbor. 

It was expected, even as early as 1809, that ine 
Federal government would aid in making a canal con- 
necting Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. 

Illinois was admitted to the Union as a State in 
1818. 

Hon. Nathaniel Pope was its last territorial dele- 
gate in Congress. With great wisdom he represented 
to Congress that if admitted into the Union with its 
then northern boundary, the State's only outlet for its 
products would be the Mississippi River; that its- 
commercial interests being thus made identical with 
those of the territory south and west of it, if ever 
the Southern or Western States should withdraw from 
the Union, Illinois would be forced, by commercial 
causes, to go with them. 

But, Mr. Pope argued, if Illinois could have har- 
bors on the Lake, and thus establish trade relations 
with the Northern and Eastern, as well as the South- 
ern and Western, States, it would be made a powerful 
agent to prevent the disruption of the LTnion. 

He, therefore, urged Congress to remove the north- 
ern boundary to 42^° north Latitude. This provision 
was accordingly embodied in the act of admission, thus 
giving to the State the valuable harbors of Chicago, 
Calumet and Waukegan. 

How nobly the State, a half century later, justified 



12 Crawford's civil government. 

the hope of* this far-seeing statesman, is written with 
the blood of nearly nine thousand of its sons who, from 
1861 to 1865, gave their lives on Southern battlefields 
to preserve the Union of all the States. 

The new State's* first capital was Kaskaskia, which 
had been the center of civil and judicial power since 
the time of LaSalle; but the first Legislature pro- 
vided for removing the seat of government to Vandalia. 
the next year. 

The State's first Governor was Shadrach Bond, 
of Kaskaskia. Its first Congressman was Daniel P. 
Cook, for whom Cook County was afterward named. 

The first Legislature, in spite of the Ordinance of 
1787, passed a law permitting slave-holding to a lim- 
ited extent; but, in 1824, by a popular vote, slavery 
was abolished absolutely. 

In 1818, the State had a population of about 
45,000 people. Of these, about 2,000 were descend- 
ants of the French colonists, who LaSalle and his suc- 
cessors had hoped would increase in numbers till they 
would fill the Mississippi Valley and become the con- 
trolling power of the New World. 

The portion of the State north of Alton and Ed- 
wardsville was almost wholly destitute of settlers. 

Governor Bond and his successor, Governor Coles, 
both urged the Legislature to take some action in ref- 
erence to the proposed canal connecting Lake Michi- 
gan and the Mississippi River. 

Their immediate object was to secure the peopling 

* The State lies between Latitude 36° 59' and 42° 30' north, and 
Longitude 87° 35' and 91° 40' west. Its extreme length is 38o miles, 
and its extreme width 218 miles. Its area is 55,410 square miles. 



Crawford's civil government. 13 

of the northern portion of the State, by providing it 
with means of transportation. 

A few years later, Congress granted to the State 
300,000 acres of land in aid of the canal project; and, 
on July 4, 183(3, work was begun on the canal, and 
it was finished in 1848. 

It starts from the South Branch of the Chicago 
River and extends to Peru on the Illinois River. 

It is not the great ship canal originally planned. 
But the expectation of such a channel had given a 
great impulse to the settlement of the northern por- 
tion of the State, and railroads soon supplied all that 
the canal lacked as a means of transportation. 

Two years after the completion of the canal, Con- 
gress granted to the Illinois Central Railroad Com- 
pany, land sufficient to provide for the construc- 
tion of a road running north and south through the 
central part of the State. This road, finished in 1856, 
extended from the southern end of the canal to Cairo. 

Thus, at last, Lake Michigan and the Mississippi 
River were connected, and the central part of the 
Stat 3, along the line of the canal and railroad, was 
rapidly filled with settlers. 

In 1831, Black Hawk, a chief of the Sac Indians, 
and his tribe, who had been transferred beyond the 
Mississippi, returned to their former location in Illi- 
nois. They were joined by the Fox Indians under 
their chief, Keokuk. 

A desultory Indian war followed, lasting some 
months, with the usual incidents of scalping settlers 
and burning their homes. In July, 1832, the savages 
were defeated in battle, and Black Hawk and Keokuk 



14 Crawford's civil government. 

captured. This was the State's last experience of 
Indian warfare. 

About 1840 a number of Mormons established 
themselves at Nauvoo. They organized a government 
for themselves, independent and in defiance of the laws 
of the State, procured cannon and small arms, and 
formed a military force. 

Their number increased rapidly. Soon the prac- 
tice of polygamy was introduced among them. 

Joseph Smith, their leader, would not permit 
officers of the State to perform their duties in Nauvoo. 
Public feeling became very hostile to the Mormons. 
Warrants were issued for the arrest of Joseph Smith 
and his brother Hiram. They surrendered themselves 
to the authorities, were discharged, but re-arrested on 
a charge of treason and placed in jail in the town of 
Carthage to await trial. A mob broke open the jail 
and murdered them. 

During the next two years the country about Nau- 
voo was almost constantly in a state of great excite- 
ment. The number of Mormons had increased to 
17,000 people. 

They were accused of coining counterfeit money 
and of stealing property from their non-Mormon neigh- 
bors, at every opportunity. Riotous proceedings be- 
came frequent. 

In the spring of 1846, however, all the Mormons 
but about 1,000 left the State, and started for their 
new home in Utah. Those left behind gave no further 
trouble. 

The State's relation to the Mexican war requires 
little notice. It contributed its quota of volunteers, 



Crawford's civil government. 15 

six regiments, who served with honor to themselves 
and credit to the State. 

One of the State's later-adopted sons, however, a 
young second lieutenant in a regiment of regulars, was 
then receiving his first experience in war, and was un- 
consciously preparing himself for the great Civil 
War, in which he was to take the leading part. His 
name was Ulysses S. Grant. 

In 1854, the tinal contest over the slavery question 
began. The "Missouri Compromise" Act had been 
repealed by Congress for the purpose of making Kan- 
sas a slave state. 

Illinois furnished to the nation the two chief 
leaders of the opposing parties in this contest — 
Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, 

Douglas argued that the people residing in any 
territory ought to be allowed to decide for themselves 
whether the territory should become a free or a slave 
state. 

Lincoln urged that the whole nation ought to unite 
in preventing the formation of any more slave states, 
because slavery was wrong. 

In 1860, Lincoln was nominated for President 
by a convention of the Republican party, meeting in 
Chicago. The leading principle of the platform was 
opposition to the spread of slavery. 

Doug-las was nominated by the Democrat partr, 
on a platform embodying his favorite principle of 
" Squatter Sovereignty," which was, as stated above, 
ihat settlers in the territories should decide the slavery 
question for themselves. 

Thus, as Nathaniel Pope had predicted forty-two 



16 Crawford's civil government. 

years before, Illinois took the chief place in dealing 
with the subject which involved the question of de- 
stroying or preserving the Union. 

And when, after Lincoln's inauguration as Presi- 
dent, in 1861, the South began war to destroy the 
Union, Douglas, not less than Lincoln, took his stand 
for its preservation, and gave to his successful rival 
and the cause he represented, the most cordial 
support. 

The two parties followed their leaders in the com- 
mon cause, and the State more than performed its 
duty in the struggle following. 

Under President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, 
issued April 15, 1861, the quota of Illinois was 6,000 
men. Within ten days, more than 10,000 were en- 
listed. 

During the war, the State sent into the Union 
army 259,092 men. Of these, 5,888 were killed, and 
3,032 mortally wounded in battle; 19,496 died of dis- 
ease, 967 died in Southern prisons, and 205 were lost 
at sea. 

The first great Union victory was won principally 
by Illinois troops, led by an Illinois General. This 
was the capture of Fort Donelson with 14,000 Con- 
federate prisoners. The General was U. S. Grant. 

How General Grant led his soldiers to other victo- 
ries, was made General-in-Chief of the Union armies, 
and, with the aid of his brave followers, brought the 
war to a successful close, can not be told here. 

Nor is this the place to narrate President Lincoln's 
acts during the dark days of the war. 

But we may, with just pride, remember that Illi- 



Crawford's civil government. 17 

nois has given to the nation and the world, the greatest 
statesman and the ablest general of modern times — 
Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. 

QUESTIONS. 

Who was the first explorer of Illinois? 

Who the next? 

When did they come? 

When and where was the first settlement made? 

What did LaSalle do on his third visit? 

What was the full extent of LaSalle's plan? 

What caused war between France and England in 
the middle of the 18th century? 

To what State did Illinois originally belong ? 

AVhat was the Ordinance of 1787? Its most im- 
portant provision? 

Give an account of the argument of Nathaniel 
Pope in 1818. 

What was the result of it? 

How did the State afterward fulfill Mr. Pope's pre- 
diction ? 

The State's first capital? Its second? Its present 
capital ? 

The first Governor, and Congressman? 

Population of the new State ? 

First object of the Illinois and Michigan Canal? 

Effect of the canal project on the northern part of 
the State? 

Give an account of the origin of the Illinois Cen- 
tral .Railroad. 

Its effect on settlement? 

The Black Hawk war? 



18 Crawford's civil government. 

Give an account of the Mormon troubles. 

What can you say about the State in relation to the 
Mexican war? 

What important question arose about 1854? What 
two men led in its discussion ? 

What are some of the things done by Illinois dur- 
ing the Civil war? 



Crawford's civil government. 19 



THE HISTOEY OF CHICAGO. 

Chicago is situated at the southern end of Lake 
Michigan. Its Court House Square is in latitude 41° 
52' 20" North, and longitude 87° 37' West from 
Greenwich. Its elevation above the level of the sea 
is about 600 feet. Its length on the Lake Shore is 
21 miles, its average width about 5 miles, and its 
territory comprises 164 square miles. 

The site of Chicago was first visited by white men 
in the winter of 1674-5, its visitors being Marquette 
and Joliet, two French Jesuit missionaries. 

In 1795, the first sale of lasid occurred, the Indians 
selling to the United States, a "piece of land six 
miles square at the mouth of the Chekajo River." 
The first settler arrived the next year, and built a 
cabin on the north bank of the chief branch of the 
Chicago River. 

A fort named "Fort Dearborn" was built in 
1804. It was located just south of the place where 
Rush Street bridge now stands. 

The first business done, was the buying of furs 
from the Pottawatomie and other Indian tribes. 

In 1812, the Indians massacred most of the soldiers 
in the fort and several settlers, including two women 
and twelve children, and burned the fort. During 
the next four years, the place was inhabited only by 
Indians. 



20 Crawford's civil government. 

In 1816, the fort was rebuilt, and garrisoned by- 
regular soldiers. 

In 1827, the first slaughterhouse was built. 
Archibald Clybourne, for whom a North Side avenue 
was afterward named, was its proprietor; and he 
entered upon the business of furnishing meat to the 
garrison of the fort, and the settlers who then con- 
sisted of three families, all living in log houses. 
Such was the beginning of a Chicago industry which, 
in its vast extent, is unequaled in any city of the 
world. 

At this time, most of the land where the greatest 
business houses of the city now stand, was nearly on a 
level with the lake, and, during the greater part of the 
year, was little better than a swamp. 

The first map of Chicago, made in 1830, fixed its 
boundaries as Madison, Desplaines, Kinzie, and State 
streets. 

The first churches, a Presbyterian and a Baptist, 
were established in 1833; also the first newspaper, 
The Chicago Democrat. 

In the same year, Chicago was incorporated as a 
town, electing four trustees as its governing body. 

Seven years later, it became a city, with an area 
of about ten square miles divided into six wards, 
each of which, as now, elected two aldermen. The 
population of the new city was 4,170 persons. Of 
these, about 700 were of school age ; and for these, 
the city employed two teachers! 

Ten years later, the first railroad was begun. 
When finished, it extended from Chicago to Freeport, 
121 miles. When it was chartered, in 1836, there 



crawfokd's civil government. 21 

were not more than 1,000 miles of railroad in the 
United States. 

In 1850, the city began to use gas for lighting the 
streets. Daring the same year a Board of Trade was 
organized. 

The first steam grain elevator was built in 1851. 

Water Works began to supply houses with water 
from Lake Michigan in 1854. 

Daring this year the city suffered severely from 
cholera. Its cause was thought to be the want of 
drainage. Sufficient drainage iiad been impossible 
in a great part of the city, because the ground was so 
nearly level with the Lake. Hence, the city now 
began to use earth, dredged from the river and thrown 
out of cellars, to raise the grade. 

Much of the present level of the South Division 
is five to ten feet above the natural level. 

By such filling, perfect drainage became possible, 
and the construction of sewers was carried on 
rapidly, so that, by the middle of 1857, the thickly- 
settled parts of the city were well drained. 

In May, 1851, Mr. John C. Dore was appointed 
Chicago's first Superintendent of Public Schools. 
He introduced examinations as a means of determining 
in what classes pupils should be placed. 

A police force for day duty, consisting of fifty-four 
men, was organized in 1855. 

The North and South Side street railways began 
to lay rails in 1859. In this year, the first steam fire 
engine was used. 

In 1860, the population of the city was over 
109,000, the total valuation of property over $37,- 



22 Crawford's civil government. 

000,000, and the capital employed that year in 
handling farm products alone, was more than $59,- 
000,000. 

Churches, schools and newspapers had multiplied 
in proportion to the increase of population and 
business. 

The year 1861 opened on the people deeply 
absorbed in the countless healthy activities of a 
young city, already the metropolis of the best agri- 
cultural region in the world. 

But, on April 14, of that year, word came that the 
national flag- had i>een insulted in Charleston harbor, 
and a national fort captured by rebels. Then, in- 
stantly, business was forgotten, and, with it, all other 
interests save one — how to preserve the National 
Union. 

People filled the streets, animated by one feeling 
— patriotism — and begged that they might be allowed 
to aid the new President in suppressing the rebellion. 
On April 19th, Governor Yates called for volunteer 
soldiers, and, at 11 o'clock on the morning of the 21st, 
600 men and four cannons were sent from Chicago 
in response to the call. 

Several thousand other volunteers offered them- 
selves within a few weeks following, whom the govern- 
ment was not then able to accept. 

Later, the city was invited to do all it would for 
the great cause of freedom and union; and nobly it 
responded to the invitation. 

Chicago and Cook County together sent 22,532 
men into the Union army during the war, and paid 
$62,000,000 of the total expenses of the war. 



Crawford's civil government. 23 

Chicago's happiest day was April 3, 1865, when it 
heard that Richmond had been captured by Gen. 
Grant's army, and its saddest day (before October 9, 
1871) was April 19, when it heard of the death of 
Abraham Lincoln, the State's greatest son, and, after 
Washington, the nation's greatest benefactor 

The body of the murdered President lay in state in 
the Court House a day and a night, on its way to inter- 
ment at Springfield, and an unbroken procession of 
sincere mourners throughout the night, as well as the 
day, filed by, to cast a last look upon one whom they 
had all learned to love as a personal friend. 

The year following* the close of the war was not a 
prosperous one for Chicago; but, with 1866, began an 
era of extraordinary prosperity, which continued, with 
no sign of decrease, till the terrible night of October 
8-9, 1871. 

In 1870, the population was 300,000, and the trade 
in materials and manufactured articles received in the 
city was $400,000,000. 

The business of wholesalers was $402,500,000, and 
that of importers $84,000,000. 

The sales of real estate for the year amounted to 
$42,000,000, the whole valuation of the real estate of 
the city being about $420,000,000. 

The year 1871 brought still greater increase of 
prosperity. The city's thousand forms of industrial 
development and pleasure were in the highest state 
of activity, when, in a night, all development stopped 
and pleas ure ceased. Within two days and nights 
forty-five per cent, of the city's wealth was destroyed, 



24 Crawford's civil government. 

and more than one-quarter of its people were made 
homeless. 

The Great Fire began at 9 o'clock, p. M., October 8, 
in a little stable on the West Side; destroyed 500 
buildings there; passed over the River to the South 
Side at midnight, and there destroyed 3,650 buildings. 
At 3 o'clock a. M., the same night, it descended upon 
the North Side, and within twenty-four hours, had 
consumed 13,300 buildings. 

When the fire ceased, $280,000,000 worth of prop- 
erty had been destroyed, and 98,500 people made 
homeless. 

The fire had started on Saturday night. On Tues- 
day following, the work of resuming business was 
begun. The Board of Trade rented a room and began 
to prepare it for business. Before the end of the day, 
twelve banks procured temporary quarters, and on 
Thursday began to pay out money to their depositors. 

Rebuilding soon began, and, within three months, 
a great number of new buildings had been completed, 
not inferior to those burned. Before three years had 
passed, nearly the whole of the burnt district was 
again covered with buildings, most of them superior 
to those which had been burned. 

Much of the reconstructing of the city had to be 
done, however, on borrowed capital, which it required 
many years to repay. 

Such repayment was made more difficult by the hard 
times which followed the " Panic of 1873." During 
this period, real estate, especially, depreciated in 
value, so that, for some years, it could scarcely be 



CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 25 

sold for any prices, except such as were ruinous to its 
owners. 

This condition continued till about the year 1881, 
when a new era of prosperity began, which, at this 
writing (1890), has not closed. 

Annexations of territory have been made that 
swell the city's population to probably 1,200,000. 

The estimated value of its business for the year 
1889 amounted to $1,177,000,000. 

Having thus briefly viewed Chicago's marvelous 
development, in little more than a half century, from a 
frontier village scarcely known outside the county in 
which it was situated, till it has become a metropolis 
trading Avith every country of the world, we ought to 
be interested in learning whether its wonderful terri- 
torial -and commercial growth have been equaled by 
the development of its civil policy; whether it has 
produced a form and method of government which 
furnish to all within its limits, protection in the enjoy- 
ment of all their rights. 

QUESTIONS. 

Define the word government. 

What are some of the duties of citizens? 

What is the simplest form of government? 

What kind of government is a City Council? 

What are the latitude and longitude of Chicago, 
and its elevation above the sea? 

When was Chicago first visited by white men? 

When did its first settler arrive? 

What was Chicago's first business ? What its 
second ? 



26 Crawford's civil government. 

What were Chicago's first boundaries? 

When were its first churches and first newspaper 
established ? 

When was Chicago first incorporated? When, as 
a city? 

When was the first Chicago railroad begun? 

Name Chicago's first Superintendent of Schools. 

Give an account of Chicago's part in the Civil War. 

Population of Chicago in 1870. 

Give an account of the Great Fire of 1871. 

Sketch the city's growth since that event. 



Crawford's civil government. 27 



THE GOVEENMENT OF CHICAGO. 

The present Constitution of the State of Illinois, 
adopted in 1870, was framed with the design of leaving 
to the cities of the State, as fully as possible, exclusive 
control of their own affairs. 

To this end, the Legislature of the State enacted a 
a law, which went into effect July 1, 1872, providing 
for the incorporation and government of the cities of 
the State. 

Chicago became incorporated under this law by 
virtue of an election held April 23, 1875. 

The officers of the corporation of Chicago are: 
Mayor, Aldermen, Clerk, Comptroller, Collector, 
Commissioner of Public Works, Treasurer, Corpo- 
ration Counsel, City Attorney, Prosecuting Attor- 
ney, Health Commissioner, Physician, Superintend- 
ent of House of Correction, Sealer of Weights and 
Measures, Fire Marshal, General Superintendent of 
Police, Gas Inspector, Inspector of Oils, Inspector 
of Steam Boilers and Inspector of Fish. 

The city election occurs annually, on the first 
Tuesday in April. 

One Alderman is elected every year from each 
ward, and holds office two years. 

Once in two years, a Mayor, Clerk, City Attorney, 
and Treasurer are elected, for a term of two years. 

All the other officers named above are appointed 



28 Crawford's civil government. 

by the Mayor, with the consent of the Council, for a 
term of two years. 

The Legislative Department of the city consists 
of the Mayor, the Aldermen, and the City Clerk. 

The Mayor and Aldermen compose the City Council. 

THE MAYOR. 

The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the 
city. Some of his duties are: 

To preside at the meetings of the Council. 

To give the Council, once a year, and oftener if 
necessary, advice in writing, about the affairs of the 
city. 

To sign ordinances passed by the Council, if he 
approves them. 

To suppress public disorder. 

To supervise the conduct of all city officers ; and to 
see that all city ordinances are faithfully executed. 

He may vote when a tie occurs, and may veto such 
ordinances as he disapproves. 

An ordinance vetoed by the Mayor, can be passed 
by the vote of a majority consisting of two-thirds of 
the Aldermen. 

The Mayor is assisted in his personal duties by a 
Secretary and clerks, appointed by himself, and paid 
by the city. 

THE ALDERMEN. 

Chicago is divided into thirty-four wards, each oi 
which elects two Aldermen. 

An Alderman must be a legal voter, and reside in 
his ward. 



Crawford's civil government. 29 

While he is an Alderman he can not hold any 
other city office, or be interested in any private busi- 
ness in which money is received from the city. 

The duties of the Council are: 

To take care of the property and finances of the 
city. 

To levy taxes for city purposes. 

To borrow money, if necessary, for the use of the 
city. 

To appropriate, annually, a sum sufficient to pay 
the city's expenses for a year. 

To make, improve, and care for, streets, sidewalks, 
alleys, bridges, parks, etc. 

To regulate vessels using the River. 

To issue licenses. 

To provide for the inspection of food, so that only 
wholesome food shall be sold. 

To provide for extinguishing fires. 

To govern the police. 

To care for the health of the people. 

And to pass all ordinances and rules necessary to 
carry into effect the powers granted to the city by the 
Constitution and laws of the State. 

The Council can make but one appropriation in a 
year; and can not borrow money exceeding five per 
cent, of the value of the taxable property of the city, 
and must provide for the repayment within twenty 
years of any sum borrowed. 

CITY CLERK. 

It is the duty of the Clerk to keep the corporate 
seal and all papers belonging to the city; to attend 



30 Crawford's civil government. 

all meetings of the Council and keep a record of its 
proceedings; and to deliver to the Mayor, ordinances 
passed by the Council. 

The Clerk appoints a Chief Deputy Clerk, and is 
provided with other necessary assistant clerks, such 
Chief Deputy and assistants being paid by the city. 

QUESTIONS. 

When did Chicago last become incorporated as a 
city ? 

Name its officers. How do they get their offices? 

When does the city election occur? 

Who are the Legislative Department of the city? 

What are the duties of the Mayor ? 

How can an ordinance be passed over the Mayor's 
veto? 

How many wards in the city? 

Qualifications of an Alderman? 

Duties of City Council? 

Power of the Council to borrow money? 



DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. 

This Department has control of the city's money 

— its receipt and expenditure. It embraces the 
Comptroller, Treasurer, and Collector, and their 
assistants. 

The Comptroller and Collector appoint their as- 
sistants, with the consent of the Mayor, and the 
Treasurer appoints his assistants on his own authority. 



Crawford's civil government. 31 

All such assistants may be discharged by their 
respective chiefs at any time. 

Such power is necessary, because the chiefs are 
held responsible for the acts of their assistants. 

The head of this department is 

THE COMPTROLLER. 

He has control of all the affairs of the Department. 

Some of his duties are: 

To examine claims against the city for damages to 
person or property. 

To supervise all officers of the city who receive and 
pay out the city's money, requiring them to report to 
him monthly, in writing, under oath, all their receipts 
and disbursements. 

To submit the substance of such report to the 
Council, at its next regular meeting. 

The Comptroller must also annually report to the 
finance committee of the Council, all sums of money 
received and paid out on the city's account during the 
preceding year, and submit to the Council estimates 
of the probable expenses of the city government during 
the next year. 

The Mayor must sign, and the Comptroller coun- 
tersign, all orders on the City Treasurer for money. 

THE TREASURER. 

It is the duty of the Treasurer to receive and safely 
keep all money belonging to the city, to pay it out 
only on the order of the Mayor and Comptroller, 

and to report, monthly, to the latter, all sums received 
and paid out during the month preceding. 



32 Crawford's civil government. 

the collector. 

It is his duty to collect license fees and taxes levied 
as special assessments, and to pay all his receipts, 
daily, to the Treasurer. 

Special assessments are taxes levied for a special 
purpose, and on property only in a specified part of the 
city. For example, if a street is to be paved, taxes 
for such paving levied only on property fronting on 
such street would be special assessments. 

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. 

The officers of this department are: Commissioner 
of Public Works, liis Secretary, City Engineer, 
Superintendent of Streets, Superintendent of Water, 
Superintendent of Sewerage, Superintendent of Spec- 
ial Assessments, and Superintendent of Maps. 

The Commissioner is the chief officer of the De- 
partment. He has power, with the consent of the 
Mayor, to appoint and remove the other officers of the 
Department. 

Some of his duties are: 

To have special charge of all public grounds of 
the city, such as streets, sidewalks, parks, etc. ; of all 
public buildings belonging to the city; of all the 
city lights, and of the city Water Works, including 
the collection of water rents. 

He also has charge of all public improvements, and 
of special assessments to be levied for the same. 

It is his duty to supervise all the expenditures 
made by the Department, and report annually, to the 
Council, all the work done, and the sums of money 



Crawford's civil government. 33 

received and expended by the Department during the 
year past, and to submit estimates of its probable 
expenses during the year to come. 

It is plain that the Commissioner can not discharge 
all his duties in person. He has to act mostly through 
his subordinate officers. His duties are, therefore, 
divided among them, as follows: 

The Commissioner's Secretary attends in the office 
of the Department during business hours, and has 
charge of the books and papers of the Department. 

The City Engineer has charge of the building and 
repairing of bridges, viaducts and waterworks, and the 
laying of public water pipes. 

The Superintendent of Streets has charge of the 
improvement and repair of streets, alleys and side- 
walks. 

The Superintendent of Water has charge of the 
collection of water taxes; and it is his duty to pay to 
the City Treasurer, daily, all such taxes collected. 

The Superintendent of Sewers supervises the con- 
struction of all public and private sewers and catch- 
basins. 

The Superintendent of Special Assessments has 
charge of the levying of special taxes on land to pay 
for public improvements to be made near such land. 

The Superintendent of Maps has charge of the 
records of city maps and plats, and of matters relating 
to street numbers. 

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS. 

This is one of the most important departments of 
the city government. Its officers, (together with the 



34 Crawford's civil government. 

Superintendent of Sewers and Health Commissioner), 
are especially charged with the care of the bodily 
safety and health of every person in the city. 

The Commissioner of Buildings is its head officer. 
He is assisted by his Secretary, the Inspector of 
Elevators, Inspector of Building's, and other employes 
of the Department. 

It is the Commissioner's duty to enforce all ordi- 
nances relating to the safety of buildings and eleva- 
tors, and to prevent the accumulation of combustible 
materials where they are liable to produce fires. 

Whenever requested by two or more persons, who 
state that the ventilation of any workshop or factory 
is imperfect, or that its doors or stairways are 
dangerous in case of fire, or that its heating* appara- 
tus is unsafe, the Commissioner must examine such 
place, and compel the person in possession to make 
necessary changes. 

The Commissioner, at least once in six months, 
must inspect all public school buildings, halls, 
churches, and theaters, and all buildings used lor 
manufacturing purposes, to learn whether they are 
safe buildings, properly ventilated, used in safe ways, 
and capable of allowing a crowd of persons to escape 
without injury, in case of fire. 

It is also his duty to inspect buildings while being 
erected, and to see that they are constructed in a safe 
manner and according to the city ordinances. 

He must investigate the cause of all tires that 
occur in the city. 

The Commissioner's Secretary performs duties 



Crawford's civil government. 35 

similar to those of the Secretary of the Commissioner 
of Public Works. 

The Inspectors of Buildings and Elevators must 
be experienced architects, builders, or mechanics. 

Their duties are sufficiently indicated by their official 
titles. 

QUESTIONS. 

Define Department of Finance, and name its 
officers. 

Power of its chief officers ? 

Their duties? 

Officers of Department of Public Works? Their 
duties ? 

AVho collects water taxes? 

Define special assessments. . 

Why is the Department of Buildings very impor- 
tant? 

Name its chief officers ? 

What are some of the Commissioner's duties? 

What are the qualifications of the Inspectors of 
this Department? 



DEPARTMENT OF LAW. 

The Law Department consists of the Corporation 
Counsel, City Attorney, Prosecuting- Attorney, and 

their assistants. 

The head of the Department is the Corporation 
Counsel. 

He superintends, and with the assistance of the 
City Attorney and City Prosecutor, conducts the city's 



36 Crawford's civil government. 

law business; draws legal papers, when requested by 
the head of any Department; and furnishes written 
opinions upon subjects proposed to him by the Mayor, 
Aldermen, or any of the Departments. 

The City Attorney assists the Corporation Counsel 
as directed by the latter; keeps a register of all suits 
in which the city is a party; and annually reports to 
the Council what he has done during the year in 
regard to such suits. 

The Prosecuting* Attorney is required to carry on 
suits against persons who violate any city ordinances, 
and to prosecute persons charged with crime in the 

POLICE COURTS. 

The Judges of the Superior, Circuit, and County 
courts, of Cook County, are required by law T , on or 
before April 1, every fourth year, to send to the 
Governor of the State, the names of nineteen men 
competent to serve as Justices of the Peace; seven 
for the Town of West Chicago, seven for the Town of 
South Chicago, and five for the Town of North 
Chicago.* 

These, the Governor is required by law, with the 
consent of the State Senate, to appoint to such offices. 

From these Justices, the Mayor, with the consent 
of the Council, appoints, biennially, one or more, to 

* The three Towns named above, and the Towns of Lake, H}^de 
Park, Jefferson and Lake View, are within the City of Chicago, 
and are organized and governed as townships according to the 
Township Organization Laws of the State. [See page 73 to 86.] At 
the same time, as portions of the city of Chicago, they are as fully 
subject to all its laws and ordinances as if they had no township 
government. 



crawfokd's civil government. 37 

preside over each of the city Police Courts. When 
so appointed, they are called Police Magistrates. 

They must hold two sessions of their courts daily, 
except on Sundays. All persons arrested by the police 
are brought before a Police Magistrate, who hears the 
evidence, and, if the prisoner is found guilty, fines 
him, or commits him to the Grand Jury. [See 
page 89.] 

If the prisoner does not pay his fine, the Magis- 
trate commits him to the House of Correction (com- 
monly known as the Bridewell). 

The Mayor may pardon persons thus fined. 

Each Police Magistrate is required to keep a record 
of the cases tried before him, and file it in the Comp- 
troller's office, monthly. 

Police Court Clerks and Bailiffs are appointed by 
the Mayor, with the consent of the Council. 

It is the duty of each Clerk to keep a full record 
of all the cases tried in the court to which he is 
assigned, and to submit to the Comptroller a report 
of such cases, and pay to the Treasurer, daily, all 
money received. 

It is a Bailiff's duty to preserve order in the court. 

The prisons to which Police Justices may commit 
prisoners are the County Jail and the House of Cor- 
rection. 

The Washington Ian Home, Martha Washington 
Home, House of the Good Shepherd, and Erring- 
Woman's Refuge are charitable institutions, but they 
receive certain portions of the city's revenue derived 
from liquor license fees and fines; and, by consent of 
their officers, they receive inebriates and erring wo- 



38 Crawford's civil government. 

men who have been found guilty in the Police Courts. 

The object of these institutions is to secure the 
reform of such prisoners. 

(The Washingtonian Home receives only male 
inebriates. ) 

THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION. 

This is the city prisou, commonly known as the 
Bridewell. It is situated between Twenty-sixth street 
and the West Branch of the South Branch of the 
Chicago River. 

It is under the control of a Board of three Inspec- 
tors, appointed by the Mayor, with the consent of the 
Council. 

These Inspectors serve without pay. The Mayor 
is, ex-officio, also a member of the Board. 

The Mayor, with the consent of the Inspectors, 
appoints a Superintendent, who holds his office four 
years. He must reside at the House of Correction, 
and give all his time to its affairs. 

Prisoners confined in this prison are required, to 
work every secular day, and they are allowed a credit 
of fifty cents a day for such work toward the payment 
of their fines. AVhen the sum of such credits due a 
prisoner equals his fine and the costs, he is dis- 
charged. 

QUESTIONS. 

Of what does the Law Department consist? 
Who is its chief officer? 
What are the duties of each of its officers? 
How are Justices of the Peace appointed for 
Chicago ? 



ckawford's civil government. 39 

How do Justices become Police Magistrates? 

Duties of Police Magistrates and Police Court 
Clerks? 

To what prisons can such Magistrates commit 
prisoners ? 

What is the Bridewell? How is it conducted? 

What is the object of the Washingtonian Home? 

How may prisoners be discharged from the Bride- 
well without paying their fines in money ? 



DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. 

This Department, like that of Buildings, is of the 
greatest importance to every resident of Chicago, be- 
ing charged, as it is, with the duty of preserving* the 
health of the people of the city. 

Its officers are, the Commissioner of Health, Su- 
perintendent of Police, and City Physician. 

The Commissioner has a general supervision of the 
City Hospital. 

It is his duty to stop the progress of all conta- 
gious diseases. 

To quarantine hoats and railway trains, when 
they are liable to bring contagious diseases into the 
city. 

To vaccinate, without charge, all persons who 
apply to him. 

To cause nuisances to be removed ; and to do 
anything else that may be necessary to keep the air of 
the city pure. 

The Commissioner has power to appoint, with the 



40 cbawford's civil government. 

consent of the Mayor, an Assistant Commissioner, 

Secretary, and a sufficient number of other subordi- 
nate officers to enable him to perform the work of his 
office. On account of the great importance of the 
duties of his Department, and the fact that he is held 
responsible for the proper performance of them, he is 
empowered to discharge any of his assistants, at 
pleasure. 

He is clothed with some other extraordinary pow- 
ers. If he has reason to believe that there is within a 
building any cause of disease, he has a right to enter 
such building, at any hour in the daytime, and take 
up floors, and use any other necessary means to dis- 
cover the cause of such disease. 

CITY PHYSICIAN. 

The City Physician must give medical attendance 
to patients in the City Hospital, Pest House, Police 
Stations, and City Prisons, and render assistance to 
the Commissioner in any other way. 

QUESTIONS. 

What is the general duty of the Department of 
Health? 

What are some of the Commissioner's especial 
duties ? 

His authority over his assistants? 

Name some of his powers? 

Why is he given extraordinary powers? 

Duties of City Physician ? 



crawfokd's civil government. 41 

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. 

It is the duty of members of this Department to 
protect all persons in the city from injury by the dis- 
orderly and criminal. Policemen have fco deal with 
not only the worst, but, also, the most unfortunate 
classes of society. 

A good police officer must be a man of courage, 
intelligence and wisdom ; and he must have integrity 
and kindness. 

Chicago has many such police officers. Since the 
awful night of May 4, 1886, the fame of the city's 
police force, for both courage and moderation, has 
filled the world. 

The Mayor is commander-in-chief of the police 
force; but its immediate head is 

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, 

Who is commonly known as the Chief, and who ap- 
points all the officers and members of the Department, 
with the consent of the Mayor. 

Members of the Police Force, below the Chief, are 
are ranked as Inspectors, Captains, Lieutenants, Ser- 
geants, and Patrolmen. 

The Superintendent can discharge Patrolmen at his 
own pleasure; and other members of the force, with 
the consent of the Mayor. 

In times of public peril, the Superintendent may 
appoint from the citizens, temporarily, any required 
number of special patrolmen. 

Some members of the force are detailed to act as 



42 Crawford's civil government. 

detectives for the discovery of criminals. Such officers 
constitute a distinct department of the force. 

QUESTIONS. 

What are a policeman's general duties? 

What are the qualifications of a good policeman? 
Why? 

What famous event happened in Chicago, on the 

night of May 4, 1886? 

Powers of the Chief? His duties? 

What are " special patrolmen? " 



Chicago has cause to be proud, also, of its 

FIRE DEPAETMENT. 

When the tire alarm signal sounds, the firemen 
slide down vertical poles from their quarters above the 
engine room, the horses of their own accord, go 
instantly to their places, and, in an average tine of 
less than a quarter of a minute after the signal is 
heard, the horses are hitched, the men mounted, and 
all are on their way toward the fire. 

This Department embraces a Fire Marshal, Secre- 
tary, one or more Assistant Fire Marshals, Superin- 
tendent of City Telegraph, Fire Inspector. Veteri- 
nary Surgeon, Captains, Lieutenants, Engineers, 
Pipemen, Drivers, Truckmen, and Telegraph Oper- 
ators. 

The Fire Marshal is appointed by the Mayor, with 
the consent of the Council. 

The Marshal appoints, with the consent of the 



Crawford's civil government. 43 

Mayor, all other officers and members of the Depart- 
ment. 

He has absolute control of all such officers and 
members. 

He has authority to remove or destroy any build- 
ing- during a fire to keep the fire from spreading, and 
he and his Assistant Marshals, during a fire, and for 
thirty-six hours afterward, have power to arrest sus- 
pected or disorderly persons, and to take them before 
a Police Magistrate for trial. 

During the Great Fire of 1871, the spread of the 
fire on the South Side was stopped by the firemen 
blowing up buildings south of the fire; and great 
numbers of dishonest persons were arrested because 
they engaged in plundering buildings within the 
burning district. 

It is the Fire Inspector's duty, immediately after 
a fire, to i fives tigate its cause, find the value of the 
property destroyed and the amount of insurance; to 
find, if possible, whether the fire was caused by care- 
lessness or by an incendiary ; and to report such facts 
to the Fire Marshal. 

The Superintendent of City Telegraph has charge 
of all the telegraph apparatus used by the Police and 
Fire Departments. 

The duties of the other members of the Fire De- 
partment are too obvious to require explanation. 

QUESTIONS. 

Give an interesting fact about the Fire Department. 
Powers of the Marshal ? His police power ? 
Duties of other members of the Department? 



44 Crawford's civil government. 

INSPECTORS. 

There are several kinds of business carried on in 
Chicago, which, without careful watching, would pro- 
duce great damage to property, as well as disease and 
loss of life; and others that, resulting less harmfully, 
would still bring pecuniary loss to great numbers of 
people. 

For the purpose of preventing such results, the 
Mayor is authorized, by ordinance, to appoint, bien- 
nially, Inspectors of Steam Boilers, Gas Meters, Fish, 
Oils, and Weights and Measures. 

The Inspector of Steam Boilers is required to ex- 
amine all steam boilers and tanks subjected to steam 
pressure, on request of the persons owning or using 
them, and to issue to each of such persons a certificate 
dated on the day of the examination, stating the con- 
dition of the boiler or tank. 

Every person owning' or nsinsr such boiler or tank, 
is required by city ordinance to ask the Inspector to 
make examination of the same, at least once a year, and 
to keep such certificate posted in a conspicuous place 
where the boiler or tank is used. 

The Inspector of Gas Meters, whenever requested, 
examines meters furnished by a gas company to any 
consumer; and also ascertains the amount of gas sup- 
plied to the city by any company having a contract for 
Such supply. 

The Inspector of Fish has power to examine all 
fish and oysters found in the city, and to destroy such 
as are unfit for food. 

The Inspector of Oils is required to examine oils 



Crawford's ciyil government. 45 

when requested; to find their quality, and mark the 
vessels containing them i4 Approved " or " Dangerous." 
All dealers in oils are required, by city ordinance, to 
have their oils inspected before offering them for sale. 

It is the duty of the Inspector of Weights and 
Measures to examine, once a year at least, all instru- 
ments used in the city for weighing and measuring; 
to keep a register of such examination, deliver a copy 
of it to the Council, and to report to the City Prose- 
cutor, the names of all persons using incorrect weights 
and measures. 

Persons so doing are subject to a fine of $25.00. 

ELECTION COMMISSIONERS. 

Elections in the City of Chicago are in charge of a 
Board of Election Commissioners, who are appointed 
by the County Judge, and hold office three years. 

Two of the Commissioners, at least, must be 
selected from the two leading political parties of the 
State. 

The Board is required, by law, to divide the city 
into precincts containing, as nearly as practicable, 
three hundred voters, and to appoint for each precinct, 
three Judges of Election. Two of these must be from 
the leading parties of the State. 

The Board must appoint, also, for each precinct, 
two clerks of election, who must be selected from the 
two leading parties of the State. 

QUESTIONS. 

Duty of Inspector of Boilers? 

Duty of persons using steam boilers ? 



46 Crawford's civil government. 

Duties of other Inspectors ? 

Duties of dealers in oils ? 

Penalty for using false weights and measures? 

State some of the duties of Election Commissioners. 

Explain the reasons for such duties. 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

The Public Schools of Chicago are under the 
management of the Board of Education. The Board 
consists of fifteen members, appointed by the Mayor, 
with the consent of the Council, and holding office for 
a term of three years. They receive no pay. 

The Board of Education does not have power to 
levy taxes for school purposes. Neither can it buy 
or sell school lands, or erect school buildings, except 
with the consent of the Council. 

But, after the Council has appropriated money for 
school purposes, or after the city's share of the State 
school fund, or any other school money, has been paid 
to the City Treasurer, then the Board has absolute 
control of all such funds, having power to expend 
them for school purposes, free from the control of the 
Council, except as above stated. 

r Jhe Board also has power to appoint Superintend- 
ents, Principals, Teachers, and other employes; to 
divide the city into school districts; to furnish the 
schools with necessary sujyplies of all kinds ; to expel 
unruly pupils, and to discharge inefficient teachers. 

It is the duty of the Board to take entire control 



Crawford's civil government. 47 

of the schools ; to cause candidates for Teachers to be 
examined; to establish rules for the government of the 
schools ; to prescribe the course of study, and to enact 
ordinances necessary to carry into effect all the Board's 
powers and duties. 

The officers of the Board are elected, annually, 
from the members, and are President, Vice-President, 
and Secretary. 

The President presides at the meetings. The Sec- 
retary keeps a record of the acts of the Board, and 
examines and signs the pay rolls of the Teachers and 
other employes of the Board. 

The employes of the Board, besides those above- 
named, are: Supervisor of Evening Schools, Archi- 
tect, Attorney, School Agent, Supply Agent, Chief 
Engineer, Clerk, Auditor, and Foreman of Repairs. 
All employes of the Board are elected annually. 

The Superintendent has supervision of all the 
public schools of the city, their equipment, apparatus 
and libraries, and also of Teachers and pupils. 

Some of his duties are, to observe, teaching and 
discipline of the schools, and to aid Teachers with his 
advice, to report to the Board the names of those 
whose work is not satisfactory, and to keep office 
hours and hear requests relating to the Public 
Schools. 

The Assistant Superintendents aid the Superin- 
tendent in the performance of his duties, and are sub- 
ject to his direction. 

Principals are required to have charge of the 
schools in their respective buildings, supervise the 
work of their Teachers, examine pupils for promotion, 



48 Crawford's civil government, 

attend to cases requiring special discipline, and to 
give careful attention to the health and comfort of 
their pupils. 

Assistants to Principals have immediate supervis- 
ion of the four lowest grades of the schools. 

Teachers are of two classes— Kegular and Special. 
Special Teachers are employed to teach certain 
branches only, as German and music. Such Teachers 
are under the immediate supervision of the Superin- 
tendent of their specialty. 

Each Regular Teacher has charge of one division 
of pupils, and is held responsible for the progress of 
such pupils in their studies. 

The Architect is required to superintend the erec- 
tion and repair of school buildings, and to see that all 
work upon such buildings is done properly and at a 
reasonable cost. 

The Attorney attends to the legal business of the 
Board. 

The School Agent has the custody of all bonds, 
notes, and other securities belonging to the Board; 
collects the rents of school lands, and the interest on 
such school funds as are loaned; keeps the accounts 
of the Board's funds, and pays the Teachers their 
wages, monthly. 

The Supply Agent purchases and distributes sup- 
plies for the schools, and prepares the pay-rolls of 
Engineers, Janitors, Mechanics and Laborers employed 
by the Board. 

The Chief Engineer visits all the school buildings 
to ascertain what repairs and alterations are necessary 



Crawford's civil government. 49 

in the heating and ventilating apparatus, and superin- 
tends the making of such repairs and alterations. 

The Clerk keeps a record of the proceedings of 
the Board, and prepares pay-rolls of Superintendents, 
Teachers, and other employes of the Board, except 
those whose pay-rolls are prepared by the Supply 
Agent. 

The Auditor keeps records of all the financial 
transactions of the Board, and of all the funds and 
sources of income belonging to the Board. 

It is also his duty to inspect all bills against the 
Board, and take care that none are paid, except those 
which are just and legal. 

The Foreman of Repairs superintends the work- 
men employed in making repairs and improvements 
on school property, and has custody of the tools, shops 
and materials used in such work. It is his duty to 
visit every school building as often as possible, ex- 
amine its condition, and recommend to the Board 
necessary repairs and alterations. 

Besides the usual Janitor's duties, Janitors of the 
Chicago schools are required to display the National 
flag* belonging to each school building, on the building 
on all legal holidays, and during the morning session 
of school on every Monday of the school year. 

ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD EMPLOYES. 

Superintendents, Teachers, Engineers and Janitors 
are elected by the Board annually, at the first regular 
meeting after the close of the summer term. 

All Principals and Teachers not charged with un- 
satisfactory work during the year, are together 



50 Crawford's civil government. 

declared elected by the Board; — an example of "Civil 
Service Reform " worthy of imitation in all branches 
of government. 

Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents are 
elected by ballot. 

SALARIES. 

As soon as possible after January 1, every year, 
the City Council appropriates such sum as it deems 
proper for one year, for the use of the Board of Edu- 
cation; and as soon as possible after such appropria- 
tion, the Board fixes the salaries of all its employes 
for the current vear. 

a/ 

TEXT BOOKS. 

Text books in use in the Schools can be changed 

only at or before the last regular meeting of the Board 
in June of each year. Changes in the course of in- 
struction can be made only in the same manner. 

EVENING SCHOOLS. 

'Evening' Schools are supported by a special appro- 
priation made annually by the City Council. They 
are under the general control of the Board, and the 
immediate care of the Supervisor of Evening Schools. 

They open on the first Monday evening of October, 
and continue till the Board decides to close them. 

OTHER SCHOOLS. 

The Board also supports a Manual Training School, 
and Schools for Deaf Mutes. 



Crawford's civil government. 51 

compulsory education. 

The State law requires that every child between 
the ages of seven and fourteen years, shall attend 
school at least sixteen weeks each year, beginning at 
the opening of the school year. Parents and others 
having control of a child, are liable to a fine of from 
three to twenty dollars, if they prevent such attend- 
ance. In pursuance of this law, the Chicago Board 
appoints Truant Officers, to see that this law is en- 
forced. It is the duty of these officers to arrest 
truants and deliver them to their Teachers, and to 
prosecute parents and others who violate the law. 

QUESTIONS. 

How is the Board of Education appointed? How 
many members has it? How is it organized? 

What power, if any, has the Board in regard to 
taxation. 

How is its use of school funds limited? 

In what respects is it independent of control in its 
use of such funds ? 

What are some of its powers and duties in regard 
to the general control and management of the schools ? 

Duties of the Superintendent of Schools? 

Duties of Assistant Superintendents, Principals, 
and Assistants to Principals? 

Classes of Teachers? 

Duties of Architect, School Agent, Supply Agent, 
Chief Engineer, Clerk, Auditor, and Foreman of Re- 
pairs ? 

Janitor's duty in respect to flag? 



52 Crawford's civil government. 

When can Text Books be changed? 

Give substance of Compulsory Education Law. 



Under certain rules and regulations, the pupils of 
the City Schools are allowed to draw books from 

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 

The laws of the State of Illinois authorize any 
incorporated Town, Village or Township, to establish 
a free Public Library; and any incorporated city, to 
establish both such a library and also a free read- 
ing room, and to levy a tax for the support of the 
same. 

In cities of 100,000 or more inhabitants, the tax 
can not exceed one-half mill on the dollar annually, 
on all the taxable property of the city; in other cities, 
one mill; and in towns, villages and townships, two 
mills. 

In pursuance of this law, Chicago has established 
a Library and Reading Room, to which, under certain 
necessary rules, all the residents of the city have 
access. 

The Public Library and Reading Room are man- 
aged by a Board of nine Directors, who are appointed 
by the Mayor, with the consent of the Council, for a 
term of three years. They receive no pay. 

The money belonging to the Library Fund is kept 
on deposit with the City Treasurer, but the Directors 
control its expenditure. 

The Directors appoint a Librarian and Assistants, 



Crawford's civil government. 53 

fix their pay, and make rules relating to the use of the 
books and Reading Room. 

The Library contains 154,000 books. 

CHICAGO PARKS 

The greater Parks of Chicago, Lincoln, Garfield, 
Doug-las, Humboldt, and the South Parks, and the 

Boulevards respectively connected with them, are 
governed by three Boards of Park Commissioners. 

The members of the North and West Park Boards 
are appointed by the Governor of the State, with the 
consent of the Senate, and those of the South Park 
Board, by the Judges of the Circuit Court of Cook 
County. Their term of office is five years, and they 
receive no pay. 

Each of such Boards has power to acquire lands 
for Parks, by purchase or by condemnation proceed- 
ings, that is, by suit in a court, and to levy a tax for 
Park purposes on all the land within its Park District. 

Park Boards also have power, for the purpose of 
connecting a Park with any portion of the city, to 
take control of and improve any street lying in the 
Park District, provided consent in writing is given 
by the owners of a majority of the front feet on such 
street, and provided the Council concurs by the pas- 
sage of a suitable ordinance. A street so taken is 
called a Boulevard. 

For the purpose of paying the expenses of above 
improvement, a Park Board may levy taxes on prop- 
erty contiguous to such improvement, and may bor- 
row money for general Park and Boulevard purposes, 
issuing bonds therefor to an amount not exceeding 



54 Crawford's civil government. 

one mill on the dollar of taxable property within 
the Park District. 

CHICAGO SANITARY DISTRICT. 

The object of the law creating this District is 
to provide a channel for water in which the sewage 
of Chicago may be conducted away from Lake Michi- 
gan. 

This is necessary, because sewage flowing into the 
Lake is carried out beyond the Crib of the AVater- 
works, thus rendering the city's water unfit for use. 

The District was established in the year 1889, by 
a vote of the people within its territory, held in pur- 
suance of a law of the State, which went into effect 
July 1, 1889. 

The District embraces all of the city, except the 
part south of Eighty-seventh street; also contiguous 
territory three to four miles wide lying west of and 
adjoining the city, as well as a portion of Lake Michi- 
gan wide enough to include the Crib of the Water- 
works. 

The affairs of the District are managed hy a 
Board of nine Trustees, who are elected by the voters 
of the District, and hold office five years. 

The Board has power to create and maintain one or 
more drainage channels in the District, and, if such 
channels extend beyond the District, the Board's 
powers extend with it. 

The Board may levy taxes on property within the 
District, and may borrow money and acquire property 
for District purposes by purchase or condemnation 
proceedings. 



CRAWFORD S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 00 

The law requires that any channel of the District, 
into which sewage is to be discharged, must be so 
made that its water will flow at the rate of 200 cubic 
feet per minute for each 1,000 persons residing in the 
District. 

It is a well-known fact that water in motion has a 
tendency to purify itself. And it has been found 
that a stream of water, flowing at the rate, and being 
of a volume which has the ratio to population, above 
given, will purify itself of all corrupt matter con- 
tained in the sewage of such a population, and will, 
therefore, not be injurious to people living near its 
channel. 

QUESTIONS. 

What is the law for the support of Public Libraries 
and Beading Rooms? 

How is the Chicago Library Board constituted? 

Duties of its members? 

Number of books in the Library? 

Name the principal Parks and Boulevards of 
Chicago. 

Who have control of these ? 

Powers and duties of the Park Commissioners ? 

What is the Sanitary District ? 

How are its affairs managed? 

Explain how a channel of water receiving sewage 
can be kept pure. 



56 CKAWFOKD's CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 



COOK COUNTY. 

The territory first organized as Cook County 

included what are now the counties of Cook, DuPage, 
Lake, McHenry, Will, and Iroquois. The organiza- 
tion occurred on March 4, 1831, 

The Legislature created Iroquois a separate county 
on February 23, 1833; Will, on January 12, 1836; 
McHenry, on January 16, 1836; DuPage, on Febru- 
ary 9, 1839; and Lake, on March 9, 1839. 

When the State Constitution of 1870 was adopted, 
Cook County was under township organization, but 
that constitution provided a government for Cook 
different from that of other counties under such or- 
ganization. 

Under that constitution, and the laws made to 
carry it into effect, the governing body of the county 
is given large and varied powers similar to those en- 
joyed by the Chicago City Council. 

It has both legislative and executive power, and 
retains and pays many employes unknown to the 
other counties of the State. It is commonly known as 

THE COUNTY BOARD. 

It consists of fifteen Commissioners chosen annually; 
ten elected from the City of Chicago and five from 
the towns of the county outside of the city. 

Under a law enacted in 1887, a President of the 
Board is elected by the people. Each voter can des- 



Crawford's civil government. 57 

ignate on his ballot the candidate for commissioner 
whom he wishes to be President. The candidate who 
receives the highest number of such votes, becomes 
President of the Board. 

It is the duty of the Board to provide for all the 
expenses of the county for which the general laws of 
the State make no provision. 

Within the first quarter of the year, therefore, the 
Board must pass an appropriation bill for all such 
expenses of the current year; and it has no power to 
pass an additional appropriation bill, or incur any 
additional expense during the year. 

The Board can not let, privately, any contracts 
for supplies, material, or work, for county purposes. 
Bids must be advertised for in some newspaper pub- 
lished in the county, and contracts must be let to the 
lowest responsible bidder. 

All work for the county must be done under con- 
tracts thus made, except in cases of emergency, when 
the Superintendent of Public Service may purchase 
supplies amounting to not more than $500.00. 

All contracts must be approved by the Board, 
and signed by its President, the Comptroller, and 
the Superintendent of Public Service, 

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD. 

The President has powers and duties similar to 
those of the mayor of a city. 

He is required to preside at the meetings of the 
Board, and to personally inspect all the accounts of 
the Superintendent of Public Service and the County 



58 Crawford's civil government. 

Comptroller, and report to the Board if he finds such 
accounts incorrect. 

He can not submit to the Board any proposition 
to spend money, unless such proposition is in writing 
signed by the Commissioner offering it. 

He can veto appropriations of money by the 
Board; and such appropriations can not be passed ex- 
cept by a majority of at least four-fifths of the mem- 
bers of the Board. 

EMPLOYES OF THE COUNTY BOARD. 

The principal employes of the County Board are: 
County Attorney and bis Assistant, Superintendent 
of Public Service, Clerk of the Board, Committee 
Clerk, Warden of County Hospital, Medical Super- 
intendent of Insane Asylum, Medical Superintendent 
of Poor House, County Physician, County Agent, 
Chief Jury Clerk, Engineers of County Buildings, 
Surveyor, Electrician, and Farmer. 

All such employes, except Clerk of the Board 
and Jury Clerk, are elected, and their pay is fixed, 
by the Board, for a term of one year. 

It is the duty of the County Attorney to appear 
for the county in all suits where it is a party ; to fur- 
nish the Board with legal opinions on all questions 
submitted to him by it ; and to attend to all the legal 
business of the county for which the Board is respon- 
sible. 

The Superintendent of Public Service has charge 
of the purchase and distribution of all supplies which 
are used in the departments of the county government 



Crawford's civil government. 59 

and the institutions of the comity which are under the 
exclusive care of the County Board. 

The Clerk of the Board is appointed by the County 
Clerk. 

He attends the meetings of the Board, and keeps a 
record of its proceedings. 

He is ex-officio County Comptroller, and, as such, 
performs for the county, duties similar to those of the 
Comptroller of the city of Chicago. [See page 31.] 

The Committee Clerk keeps a record of all com- 
mittee meetings. 

The Chief Jury Clerk furnishes to the County 
Clerk the name?* of persons capable of serving as petit 
jurors. He is required, by law, to name only persons 
of intelligence and good character for such service. 

From the lists thus made out, the County Clerk 
furnishes names to the Sheriff, whose duty it is to 
summon persons to serve as jurors. 

The County Electrician has charge of the dynamos 
and all other electrical apparatus owned by the county. 

QUESTIONS. 

When was Cook County organized? 
What territory did it first include? 
Describe its County Board. 
What general powers has the Board? 
How is its President elected ? 

What is the Board's duty in regard to the annual 
appropriation ? 

How must contracts for supplies be let? 
What are the President's duties? 



60 Crawford's civil government. 

Name the principal employes of the Board, and 
state the principal duties of each. 
How are they appointed? 



THE COUNTY CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 

In the town of Jefferson, at the railway station 
Dunning, Cook County owns a farm called the County 
Poor Farm, On it are located the County Poor 
House, Insane Asylum, and buildings for the use of 
the County Farmer. 

The Farmer resides on the Farm, and superintends 
its cultivation. Inmates of the Poor House and 
Insane Asylum, if able to work, are employed by the 
Farmer. The products of the Farm are used by such 
County Institutions as need them. 

The Hospital of Cook County is located in Chicago 
at the southwest corner of South Wood and West 
Harrison streets. 

The Warden of the Hospital and the Superin- 
tendents of the Poor House and Insane Asylum, 
are required to reside in their respective Institutions ; 
to employ kind and skillful assistants; to see that the 
inmates receive all necessary attention, and to incur no 
unnecessary expense. 

The County Physician admits persons to the Poor 
House, has charge of the Detention Hospital for the 
Insane (which is in the County Jail building), has 
oversight of the health of inmates of the County Jail, 
and supervises the transfer of patients from the Hos- 
pital to the Poor House. 



Crawford's civil government. 61 

The County Agent also has authority to order 
that persons be admitted to the Poor House, to the 
Hospital, and to the Detention Hospital for the In- 
sane, if he finds, on inquiry, that such persons have no 
relatives in the county who should provide for them. 

It is his especial duty to relieve those persons 
suffering actual want outside of the County Institu- 
tions. But, to be entitled to such relief, persons apply- 
ing for it must prove that they have lived in the county 
at least six months before becoming dependent. 

The Engineers of the different County Building's 

have the care of the heating apparatus of the same; 
and, at the Poor House and Insane Asylum, they have 
also charge of the water systems, and keep the hose 
and pipes ready for instant use in case of fire. 

It is the duty of the County Surveyor to survey, 
that is, learn the boundaries and location of any piece 
of land, whenever requested, and furnish to the person 
requesting, a copy of the surveyor's record, and a plat, 
viz., a map of the land surveyed. 

THE COUNTY NORMAL SCHOOL. 

This Institution is located at Normal Park, and is 
supported by the County Board for the purpose of 
training- teachers for the public schools of the county 
not within the city of Chicago. 

It is under the control of the 

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, 

"Which consists of seven members, elected by the Com- 
missioners, and holding office during a term of two 



62 CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

years. The County Superintendent of Schools is, 
ex-offieio, also a member of this Board. 

The County Board of Education sustains about 
the same relation to the County Commissioners and 
the Normal School, as the Chicago Board sustains to 
the Council and City Schools. 

The Commissioners appropriate, annually, a sum of 
money for the support of the Normal School, and the 
Board hires a Principal and Teachers, and other neces- 
sary employes for the school, furnishes it with sup- 
plies, and supervises its work. 

All the officers above named, except Surveyor and 
County Farmer, are peculiar to Cook County. 

In addition, Cook has all the officers that any other 
county in the State has (and a few others), viz.: 

Judges of the Superior,* Circuit, County and 
Probate Courts; Sheriff, Treasurer, Recorder, County 
Clerk; Clerks of the Superior,* Circuit, Probate, 
Criminal* and Appellate Courts; Coroner, State's 
Attorney and Superintendent of Schools. 

QUESTIONS. 

Name the County Charitable Institutions. 

Where are they located? 

What is the object of each? 

What is the object of the County Normal School? 

Under whose care is it? 



* Officers of Cook County only. 



crawfokd's civil government. 63 



COURTS IN COOK COUNTY. 

Cook County constitutes one judicial circuit. The 

work of this circuit is done by the Circuit, Superior 
and Criminal Courts. 

The Criminal Court is presided over, in turn, by 
Judges of the Circuit and Superior Courts. " 

It has original and exclusive jurisdiction* in all 
criminal cases where the offense is committed against 
the laws of the State. 

It has appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases ap- 
pealed from Justices of the Peace. 

The Circuit and Superior Courts have original 
jurisdiction in all civil disputes, for which, remedy is 
provided by the laws of the State. 

They have appellate jurisdiction in civil cases ap- 
pealed from Justices of the Peace. 

Their Judges are elected for equal terms, six years, 
and are paid equal salaries. 

There are several Judges of each of these courts, 
and their number may be increased from time to 
time, by act of the Legislature, as the population of 
the county increases. 

The county has, also, a County Court and a Pro- 
bate Court. 

The former has exclusive jurisdiction in suits for 
the collection of taxes, and in trying persons supposed 
to be insane. 

It has concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit and 
Superior Courts in civil disputes involving not more 

*For definitions, see pages 90 and 91. 



64 ckawfokd's civil government. 

than $1,000, and in cases appealed from Justices of 
the Peace.* 

The Probate Court has original and exclusive 
jurisdiction in matters relating to wills, the settle- 
ment of estates of deceased persons, apprentices, 
guardians of minors, and conservators of the insane 
and imbecile. 

The last two Courts have but one Judge each. The 
term of such Judges is four years. 

Cook County constitutes the First District ot the 
Appellate Court. 

The Judges of this court, three in number, are as- 
signed to it by the Supreme Court, from the Superior, 
or the Circuit Court Judges from this or other circuits. 

All the above courts are called " Courts of Record." 

Nearly all kinds of cases, except criminal cases 
called " felonies," if appealed from courts of record, 
must first be taken to an Appellate Court. 

In all cases where less than $1,000 is in dispute, 
such court's decision is final, unless the court itself 
elects to send the case to the Supreme Court on ac- 
count of some new or peculiar question involved, f 

DUTIES OF COOK COUNTY OFFICERS. 

The duties of the officers of Cook County are the 
same as those of like officers in other counties of the 
State. 

SHEKIFF. 

The Sheriff's principal duties are : to attend the 

sessions of all the above courts, preserving order in 

* For " Concurrent Jurisdiction." see page 9. 

f For jurisdiction of Supreme Court, see page 113. 



crawfokd's civil government. 65 

them, and executing the commands of the Judges; to 
serve summonses, writs, and other judicial papers ; 
to prevent disorderly conduct wherever he is, and 
to arrest offenders against the law. 

He has custody of the Court House and Jail, takes 
convicted prisoners to the Penitentiary and House of 
of Correction, and hangs criminals condemned to death. 

As Cook County has nearly twenty courts in ses- 
sion ten months every year, it is plain that the Sheriff 
can not himself attend all of them, to say nothing of 
performing the countless other duties of his office. 
Hence, he is authorized to employ a fixed number of 
deputies, bailiffs and clerks to assist him. The depu- 
ties have the same authority as the Sheriff himself 
to serve writs and other legal papers. 

TREASURER. 

It is his duty to receive and care for all money paid 
for Town, City, County and State taxes, and to pay 
it out only on the order of the County Board, or in the 
manner specially provided by law. 

To keep books of his accounts as Treasurer, and 
have them always open to the inspection of the public. 

To report to the County Board, at each of its regu- 
lar sessions, all sums of money paid out by him. 

RECORDER. 

It is his duty to provide his office with suitable 
books, and, on request, to copy in them, deeds, mort- 
gages, and other papers relating to interest in real 
estate; also, chattel mortgages. This is called record- 
ing- deeds, etc. 



66 Crawford's civil government. 

Before recording such documents, the Recorder 
places on the back of each, a certificate signed by him- 
self stating the day, hour and minute when it was 
received for recording. 

The Recorder of Cook County also furnishes 
abstracts of title. 

An abstract of title is a history of everything that 
has been done affecting the title, or right, to the piece 
of real estate under examination. 

COUNTY CLERK. 

It is the duty of the County Clerk to keep a record 
of the acts of the County Court, of the County Board, 
and of all orders for money drawn on the County 
Treasurer. 

To issue marriage licenses. 

To compute the Town, County, City and State Tax 
of every person owning property in Cook County, 
enter it in proper books, and issue these to the appro- 
priate collectors.* 

The County Clerk of Cook County is also, ex-offlcio, 
County Comptroller. 

In the latter capacity, it is his duty to audit the 
accounts of the County Board, to see that the county 
suffers no pecuniary loss. 

He submits to the Board, annually, an estimate of 
the probable expenses of the county government for 
the next year. 

The duties of Comptroller are, in fact, performed 
by the County Clerk's deputy, the Clerk of the Board 
of Commissioners. 

* See page 92; topic, " County Clerk." 



Crawford's civil government. 67 

circuit clerk. 

Some of his duties are to receive and file papers in 
suits begun in the Circuit Court. 

To issue writs, summonses, and other legal papers 
to the Sheriff to execute. 

To keep records of the acts of the court. 

To furnish copies of such records, on request. 

To keep account of the costs of legal proceedings, 
and to issue to the Sheriff writs to collect such costs 
from the persons liable to pay them. 

The Clerks of the Superior, Probate, County, Crimi- 
nal and . Appellate Courts perform similar duties for 
their courts. 

All the above Clerks have power to appoint depu- 
ties, for whose acts the respective Clerks are held re- 
sponsible. 

CORONER. 

He examines, with the aid of a jury, the body of 
any person killed by accident, or having died from 
any mysterious cause, calls witnesses of the event, if 
there are any, and ascertains the cause of death, if 
possible, reporting such examination to the County 
Clerk. 

He may cause the arrest of any person suspected of 
killing the deceased, and commit him to the Grand Jury. 

It is the Coroner's duty to act as Sheriff, if the 
Sheriff's office becomes vacant, or if the Sheriff is in- 
terested in a suit. 

STATE'S ATTORNEY. 

The State's Attorney's chief duties are to aid the 
Grand Jury in the investigation of criminal matters, 



68 Crawford's civil government. 

to draw indictments,* and to conduct trials in the 
Criminal Court. 

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. 

This officer is required to visit the schools of the 
county outside of the City of Chicago, notice the 
teachers' methods, the branches taught, text books 
used, and the general condition of the schools. 

To instruct teachers in the best methods of 
teaching. 

To hold county teachers' institutes. 

To examine candidates for teachers, and issue 
licenses only to those capable of teaching skillfully. 

To decide contests in reference to school law. 

To divide the money received from the State, 
among- the townships of the county, in proportion to 
the children under twenty-one years of age in the re- 
spective townships. 

To examine and approve the bonds, hooks and 
accounts of township school treasurers before issuing 
money to them. 

To remove from office, directors of school districts 
who do not perform their duties properly, and to cause 
elections to be held to fill such vacancies. 

To report to the State Superintendent whatever 
facts the latter needs for his report to the Governor. 

All of the above officers may appoint deputies or 
assistants. 

The County Board fixes the pay of both officers and 

* See page 89. 



Crawford's civil government. 69 

assistants, except, in a few instances, where the com- 
pensation is determined by State law. 

QUESTIONS. 

Name the Courts of Eecord in Cook County. 

What is meant by the " jurisdiction" of a court? 

Define the kinds of jurisdiction. 

What jurisdiction has each of the courts of Cook 
County ? 

What kind of cases may be appealed from the Ap- 
pellate to the Superior Court? 

What officers has Cook County in common with the 
other counties of the State? 

State some of the most important duties of such 
officers. 

What is an " abstract of title? " 



Having finished our study of the State's two most 
important sub-divisions, its greatest City and County, 
we will now pass to an examination of its other parts, 
and of the State at large. 

In making such examination, we will take up the 
political units of the State in the order of their size, 
beginning with the least. 



THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.* 

Q. What are the officers of a school district called ? 

A. Directors. 

Q. How many directors are there in each district I 

A. Three. 

Q. For what term are they elected ? 

A. Three years. 

Q. When are they elected ? 

A. One director is elected every year at the annual 
district election, which is held on the third Saturday of 
April. Women may be directors. Directors must be 
21 years old, and able to read and write the English 
language, 

Q. What notice must be given before the election ? 

A. Ten days before the election the directors must 
put up notices in three of the most public places in the 
district, stating the place where the election will be 
held, when the voting will begin and end, and the ques- 
tions that will be voted on. 

Q. What must the directors do within ten days after 
the election? 

A. They must meet and choose one of their number 
president and another clerk of the board of directors. 

Q. What are the president's duties ? 

A. To preside at the meetings and execute the orders 
of the board. 

Q. What are the clerk's duties ? 

A. To keep a record of the acts of the board, and 
submit it on the first Mondays of April and October to 
the town treasurer. On or before July 7, annually, to 
* Cook County has school district government like the other 
counties of the State, and town government like the counties which 
are under township organization. 



THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. 71 

report to the town treasurer such facts as the treasurer 
must report to the county superintendent. 

DUTIES OF DIRECTORS. 
Q. What are the duties of the whole board of direc- 
tors ? 

AS TO TEACHERS? 

A. To appoint teachers and fix their pay, and to dis- 
miss them for incompetency or bad conduct. 

AS TO SCHOOL MANAGEMENT? 

A. To visit schools and make rules for their govern- 
ment. To direct what branches shall be taught. Not to 
permit a change of text books oftener than once in four 
years. 

AS TO REPORTS TO TREASURER? 

A. To report to the town treasurer whatever facts the 
law requires him to report to the county superintendent. 

AS TO TAXATION? 

A. To levy a tax sufficient, with the district's share of 
the State fund, to maintain school at least five and not 
more than nine months in the year, and to erect necessary 
school-buildings. 

Directors can not levy a tax of more than three per cent, for build- 
ing and two per cent, for other educational purposes. They can 
levy a tax sufficient to maintain school nine months of the year, if 
the tax does not exceed two percent, of the assessed value of all the 
property in the district. 

AS TO REPORTS TO VOTERS? 

A. Directors must at the annual district election submit 
to the voters a report of all sums of money received 
and paid out by them during the year (having sent a 
copy to the township treasurer within five days of the time 
of election), and must post on the door of house where 
the election is held the township treasurer's exhibit of 
the sums received and expended by the district during 
the preceding year. They must also give the names of 



72 crawfokd's civil government. 

all persons between the ages of twelve and twenty-one 
in the district who can not read and write, and state the 
causes of the neglect to educate them. 

AS TO COMPULSORY EDUCATION. 

To compel all children between the ages of eight and 
fourteen years, to attend school, at least twelve weeks 
in each school year. Failure to perform this duty sub- 
jects directors to prosecution and a fine of ten dollars. 

HOW DISTRICTS RECEIVE THEIR SHARE £>F THE 
STATE FUND. 

Q. How do districts receive their share of the State 
school tax ? * 

A. On the first Monday in January every year, next 
after taking the census of the State, the State auditor 
issues to the superintendent of schools in each county an 
order on the county treasurer for a sum of money pro- 
portioned to the number of children in the county under 
twenty-one years of age. 

Next, the county superintendent must require each 
township treasurer to give a sufficient bond for the safe- 
keeping of the money to be paid over to him, and then 
pay to him a sum proportioned to the children under 
twenty-one in his town.f 

The trustees then find how much each district is en- 
titled to, the sum being proportioned to the children in 
the district under twenty-one. They then let the direc- 
tors of each district know what sum belongs to their 
district, and that sum is paid out by the township treas- 
urer as the directors give orders.:}; The directors' orders 
for the payment of money must be in writing. 

*In addition to the State tax, each district receives also its proportionate share of 
the following funds ; viz : Interest on the state, county and township school funds, 
and the fines and forfeitures collected by justices of the peace. 

fThe county superintendent must not pay this sum unless the directors have 
made their annual reports according to law. 

±The treasurer should withhold all money until the directors have returned to 
him their schedules; which they should return in April and October. 



THE TOWN. 73 

HOW DISTRICTS MAY BE DIVIDED. 

Q. Who lay out townships in school districts t 

A. The trustees. 

Q. How can the boundaries of districts be altered ? 

A. The trustees may alter them when petitioned so to 
do either by a majority of the voters of the district or 
districts affected, or by two-thirds of the voters of the 
territory involved. Within ten days from final action 
upon a petition by trustees, an appeal may be taken 
from such action to the county superintendent. The 
county superintendent may grant or refuse the petition 
on appeal.* 

TRANSFERRING PUPILS. 

Q. How may pupils be transferred from one district 
to another ? 

A. By getting the written consent of a majority of 
the directors of both districts. 



II. THE TOWN. 

TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS DISTINGUISHED. 

Q. In what town (or township) do you live? Give its 
bounds. What cities or villages does it contain ? How 
many are its school districts? 

Q. Who lay out towns ? 

A. Three commissioners, appointed by the county 
board. (See page 22.) 

Q. Who lay out townships? 

A. United States surveyors, when the Government 
lands are first surveyed. A township is six miles square. 

Q. Do the " towns" of a county coincide with its 
" townships?" 

* See Sec. 33 of School Laws. 



74 Crawford's civil government. 

A. Not always. Bat it is the duty of county boards 
to so lay out towns that they will coincide with town- 
ships, if possible. 

Q. What is the chief difference between "towns" 
and "townships." 

A. Towns govern themselves in all local matters. 
Townships govern themselves in school affairs only. 
In all other local matters they are governed by the 
county boards. 

Q. What is the origin of "town government" in 
Illinois ? 

A. In 1848 a new State constitution was adopted^ 
which provided that town government might be organ- 
ized in all counties where a majority of the people voted 
for it. The constitution adopted in 1870 contains a 
similar provision. 

Q. Have all the counties in the State accepted town 
government, or " township organization," as it is more 
commonly called ? 

A. No. About twenty counties have not yet done so. 
These counties are in the southern part of the State. 

Q. Has the county in which you live adopted town- 
ship organization? If yes, when did it do so? 

TOWN OFFICERS— THEIR TERMS OF OFFICE. 

Q. What officers do towns have, and what are their 
terms of office ? 

A. One or more supervisors, term, two years. A col- 
lector, a clerk, an assessor; term of each, one year. Three 
highway commissioners ; term three years, one commis- 
sioner being elected annually. Two or more justices of 
the peace ; two or more constables ; term of each, four 
years. One or more poundmasters may be elected at 



THE TOWN. 75 

town meetings, to serve one year.* A commissioner of 
Canada thistles may be appointed by the board or town 
auditors, to serve three years. If such commissioner is 
not so appointed, the county board must appoint one, if 
petitioned by twenty-five land owners in the town to be 
affected, or in the towns adjoining, the same. 

Q. In what case has a town more than one super- 
visor ? 

A. In towns of 4,000 inhabitants there is one assist- 
ant, and for every 2,500 above 4,000 one supervisor is 
added. 

Q. In what case are there more than two justices and 
two constables ? 

A. One justice and one constable are added for every 
1,000 inhabitants above 2,000 till there are five of each. 

TOWN MEETING. 

Q. What do towns have that unorganized town- 
ships lack ? 

A. Town meetings. 

Q. What is a town meeting ? 

A. It is a meeting of the voters of the town to elect 
town officers, adopt rales for the government of the 
town, and to hear the reports of the town officers for 
the preceding year. 

Q. When is the annual town meeting held ? 

A. On the first Tuesday of April. 

Q. What must precede the meeting ? 

A. The town clerk must post notices of the time and 
place of holding the meeting in three of the most public 
places in the town ten days before the meeting, and in- 
sert the notice also in a newspaper, if any is published 
in the town. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN MEETING. 

Q. How does a town meeting prepare for business ? 
A. Between 8 and 9 o'clock the town clerk calls the 

* In towns coincident with townships one school trustee is elected annually at 
rown meeting. See page 21. For election of school treasurer, see uage 21. 



76 Crawford's civil government. 

meeting to order, and calls on the voters present to elect 
one of their number moderator. 

Q. What must the moderator do before assuming 
his office? 

A. He must take an oath, faithfully to discharge his 
duties. 

Q. What are his duties ? 

A. To act as a judge of election and preside over the 
meeting during the transaction of miscellaneous busi- 
ness. 

Q. What further duties has the clerk after the elec- 
tion of moderator ? 

A. He must write all the proceedings of the meeting 
in a book know T n as the u town records," and must sign 
his name to the record of each meeting. The moderator 
must also sign his name to the same. 

Q. After the moderator is chosen and has taken his 
oath of office, w r hat is next done ? 

A. The ballot box is produced and voting for town 
officers begins. 

Q. How are town officers voted for ? 

A. By ballot. That is, each voter hands a ticket con- 
taining the names of the candidates for whom he wishes 
to vote to a judge of election, who puts it in the ballot 
box. 

Q. Who besides the moderator are judges of elec- 
tion ? 

A. The supervisor, collector and assessor. 

Q. What are the duties of judges of election ? 

A. To receive the ballots (or tickets), not permit any 
unqualified person to vote, and to count the votes after 
the polls are closed. 

Q. What persons have a right to vote ? 

A. All men 21 years old or older, who are citizens of 



THE TOWN. 77 

the United States, and have lived in the State one year, 
in the county ninety days, and in the voting precinct 
thirty days next preceding the election. 

When towns have more than 450 voters, it is the duty 
of the county board to provide two or more voting 
places, to appoint three judges for each, and to direct 
that the general business of the town shall be done at 
one of said places. 

POWERS AND DUTIES OF TOWN MEETINGS. 

Q. What besides electing officers is done at town 
meeting ? 

A. Miscellaneous business is attended to. 

Q. When is this done ? 

A. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the ballot box is 
closed, and the moderator calls the meeting to order for 
miscellaneous business. 

Q. What are some of the things that may be done 
under the name of miscellaneous business? 

A. Under the name of miscellaneous business the 
voters may hear and act upon the reports of officers for 
the preceding year. May order the raising of money by 
taxation for roads, bridges, and some other objects. May 
direct the proper officers to commence and defend law- 
suits for the town. May offer rewards for the destruction 
of Canada thistles. May offer rewards for planting trees 
by public roads. May make rules about fences in the 
town. May regulate or forbid the running at large of 
stock. May provide for public wells and watering places. 
May forbid the doing of anything that will lessen the 
healthfulness of the town. May decide whether the road 
tax shall be paid in money or in work. May provide 
for fining any one who shall break any of the rules adopted 
at town meeting. No fine can be more than $50.00. 



78 Crawford's ciyil government. 

Q. How may votes be taken on questions of miscel- 
laneous business? 

A. In three ways. Viva voce, that is, by answering 
u Aye " or " No " to the questions put to the meeting by 
the moderator ; by division of the house, that is, by 
those favoring a motion, moving to one side of the house, 
those opposing, to the other ; and by standing to be 
€Ounted. 

Q. What follows miscellaneous business ? 

A. After the moderator announces that it is closed, 
the ballot box is again produced, and voting for town 
officers begins again and continues until the closing of 
the polls. As soon as the polls are closed, the judges of 
-election count the votes, and the clerk makes a record 
of the result and reads this publicly to the meeting. 

Q. If a town office becomes vacant by death, resigna- 
tion or other means, what is done ? 

A. The town board of appointment, consisting of the 
supervisor, clerk and justices of the peace, choose some 
person to fill the vacancy during the remainder of the 
term. 

OATH AND BONDS OF TOWN OFFICERS. 

Q. What must all town officers do before taking pos- 
session of their offices ? 

A. They must take an oath in which they promise to 
support the constitution of the United States and of 
Illinois, and to faithfully perform the duties of their 
offices. 

Every officer that has public money to handle must 
give an official bond for double the sum of money 
that he will receive, to secure the public against loss. 

Q. What is an official bond ? 

A. It is a written promise by an officer and at least 



THE TOWN. 79 

two other persons to pay into the public treasury a cer- 
tain sum of money if the officer does not take proper 
care of the public money that may come into his hands. 

TOWN BOARDS. 

Q. Name the various town boards, and state who 
compose them and what their duties are ? 

A, The hoard of appointment has been already 
described. 

The hoard of health consists of the supervisors, the as- 
sessor and town clerk. It is their duty to prevent the 
spread of contagious diseases. 

The board of auditors consists of the supervisor, clerk, 
and one or more justices of the peace. It is their duty 
to examine all claims against the town, and to see 
that the town is not defrauded out of any money. 
For this purpose they meet at the town clerk's office 
twice a year, on the Tuesday before the annual meet- 
ing of the county board, and on the Tuesday before the 
annual town meeting. 

At these meetings the accounts of all the town officers 
are examined for the purpose of learning whether the 
public money has been properly en red for and judiciously 
expended. 

The board of equalization consists of the assessor, 
clerk and supervisor. This board meets on the fourth 
Monday in June, every year, to equalize assessments of 
the value of property. The assessor may set too high 
a value on some property and too low a value on other 
property. The owners of the former would pay too 
much tax, the owners of the latter too little. It is the 
duty of the board to equalize all the assessor's valua- 
tions as nearly as possible. 



80 CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

DUTIES OF TOWN OFFICERS. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Q. What are the duties of the principal supervisor ? 

A. To act as treasurer of all town money except the 
school and the highway and bridge funds. 

To oversee the town paupers. 

To attend meetings of the county board. 

To report to the town board of auditors one week be- 
fore the annual town meeting all sums of money 
received and paid out by him during the year. 

To file with the town clerk, one week before the an- 
nual town meeting, a statement showing what sums of 
money are due the town and what sums the town owes. 
(This statement the clerk must copy into the town 
records and read at the town meeting.) 

To carry on lawsuits for the recovery of fines and 
penalties due the town. 

Q. What are the duties of assistant supervisors . 

A. They have no authority in town affkirs (except as 
members of the board of health), but in the county 
board they have the same powers as the principal super- 
visor. 

CLERK. 

Q. What are the clerk's duties ? 

A. To take care of all records, books and papers 
belonging to the town. 

To record all acts of town meetings and of the town 
board of auditors. 

To send to the county clerk, on or before the second 
Tuesday in August, a statement of the amount of taxes 
to be levied in his town for that year. 



THE TOWN. 81 

ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR. 

Q. What is the assessor's duty ? 

A. To make an assessment of all the property in the 
town. 

Q. What is an assessment ? 

A. It is a value set on property and written down in 
the assessor's book for the purpose of taxation. 

Q. How is each man's tax found ? 

A. By multiplying the value of his property as fixed 
by the assessor by the rate per cent, of taxation. 

Q. What are the collector's duties ? 

A. To collect the town taxes. To pay those levied 
for school purposes to the treasurer of the school fund ; 
those levied for roads and bridges, to the treasurer of 
the highway commissioners ; and those levied for gen- 
eral town purposes, to the principal supervisor. 

SCHOOL TRUSTEES. 

Q. What are the duties of trustees of schools ? 

A. To divide the township into school districts accord- 
ing to the wishes of a majority of the people. 

To divide the school money among the districts m 
proportion to the number of children in each, under 
twenty-one^ years of age. 

To withhold money from all districts that do not keep 
their schools according to law, and in obedience to the 
directions of the county and State superintendents. 

To control township high schools, when such have 
been established. 

To appoint a treasurer of the school funds. 

SCHOOL TREASURER. 

Q. What are the school treasurer's duties ? 

A. To take care of the school money of the township. 



82 Crawford's civil government. 

To keep the permanent school funds at interest. 

To report annually to the trustees, all sums received, 
paid out, and in hand. 

To settle twice a year with the directors, making a 
sworn statement that will show the amount each district 
is entitled to. 

To report under oath, on or before September 30, 
annually, to the county superintendent the condition of 
the township funds. 

To report to the county superintendent such facts as 
are called for by the State superintendent. 

HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS. 

Q. What are the duties of highway commissioners ? 

A. To choose one of their number treasurer. 

To divide the town into a suitable number of road 
districts. 

To lay out new roads and alter old ones, and to build 
new bridges, when they deem such acts necessary. 

To keep roads and bridges in repair. 

To put up guide boards at forks and crossings. 

To levy a road tax and see that it is collected, or an 
equivalent amount of work done on the roads of the 
town. 

To appoint, in towns where road tax is paid in labor, 
iin overseer of highways in each road district. 

To give directions to overseers of highways about the 
Work in their respective road districts, 

OVERSEERS OF HIGHWAYS. 

Q. What is the duty of overseers of highways ? 
A. To superintend the road work done in their re- 
spective districts. 
2 



THE TOWN. 83 

POUNDMASTER AND COMMISSIONER OF CANADA 
THISTLES. 

Q. What is the poundmaster's duty % 

A. To shut up stock found running at large, and hold 
it till the owners take charge of it. 

Q What is the duty of the commissioner of Canada 
thistles ? 

A. To destroy all Canada thistles found growing in 

the town. 

JUSTICES AND CONSTABLES 

Q. What are the duties of justices of the peace ? 

A. To try civil causes when the sum in dispute is not 
more than $200. 

To try criminal causes, when the punishment is by fine 
only and the fine is not more than $200. 

To try offenders in cases of assault and battery, and 
in some other cases. 

To examine those accused of offenses punishable by 
imprisonment in the county jail or penitentiary, and if 
the evidence shows their guilt, to hold them to bail or 
send them to jail, to remain till the meeting of the grand 

Q. What are the duties of constables ? 

A. To stop all disorderly conduct that they witness, 

and to execute the orders of justices of the peace and 

other magistrates. 

CIVIL CAUSES. 

Q. What is a civil cause ? 

A. It is a suit in court to compel the defendant to pay 

the plaintiff a sum of money for a debt due or an injury 

done to the plaintiff, or to recover possession of 

property. 

CRIMINAL CAUSES. 

Q. What is a criminal cause ? 



84 ceawfokd's civil government. 

A. It is a suit brought to secure the punishment of 
some person who has offended against a public law. 

Q. What is a fine? 

A. It is a sum of money to be paid into the public 
treasury by an offender against law as a punishment for 
his offense. 

Q. What is an assault ? 

A. An attempt by one person to strike another. If 
the act is done, the offense becomes assault and battery. 

HOLDING TO BAIL. 

Q. What is " holding to bail ? " 

A. It is compelling a prisoner to produce a certain 
number of persons who will promise in writing to pay 
into the public treasury a given sum of money, if the 
prisoner, being set at liberty, does not afterward appear 
in court on a certain day. 

PAY OF TOWN OFFICERS. 

Q. What can you say of the pay of town officers ? 

A. Some are paid by the day, others partly by the 
dt\y and partly in fees. Those paid by the day receive 
from $1.25 to $2.50 per day. The fees vary widely in 
amount, and are fixed by State law. 

Q. What is a fee ? 

A. A certain sum to be received for a certain service. 
For example, the clerk receives twenty-five cents for 
posting a notice of a town meeting. 

SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS. 

Q. Can there be more than one town meeting in the 
same year ? 

A. Special town meetings may be held when the 
supervisor, clerk, and a justice of the peace, or any two 
of these officers, together with at least fifteen voters, 



THE TOWN. 85 

sign a written statement that a special town meeting is 
necessary, and tile this statement in the town clerk's 
office. This statement must describe the object of the 
meeting. 

Notice must then be given as for other town meetings, 
the notice stating the object for which the meeting is 
called. No business can be done at a special town meet- 
ing, except such as is described in the statement filed 
with the clerk and contained in the clerk's notice of the 
meeting. 

THE NATURE OF TOWN GOVERNMENT. 

Q. What three kinds of acts are done in governing 
a town ? 

A. Legislative, executive and judicial. 

Q. Who do the first? 

A. The voters at town meeting, when they vote on 
motions during the transaction of miscellaneous busi- 
ness. The motions that they adopt become laws for the 
government of the town. 

Q. Who do the second ? 

A. The supervisor, school trustees and highway com- 
missioners. They see that the laws made at town meet- 
ing (and also State laws) are put into effect, or executed. 

Q. Who perform the third kind of acts ? 

A. Justices of the peace and constables. They enforce 
obedience to the laws by punishing those who break 
them. 

As in the town, so in the village, the city, the county, 
the State, and the United States, we shall find these 
three departments of government, and only these, 
namely ; the legislative or law-making, the executive, or 
that which puts the law into operation, and the judicial, 
or law-enforcing. 



86 Crawford's civil government. 

Q. What kind of a government is that of a town ? 

A. A pure democracy. The people themselves make 
the laws. 

Q. What kind of a government is that of an unorgan- 
ized township? 

A. A representative democracy. The local laws for 
the township (except in school matters) are made by 
representatives chosen by the people ; namely, the 
county commissioners. 

(It is to be remembered that over the laws made as 
above described, are the general laws made by the State 
legislature for towns and townships alike.) 

OFFICERS OF TOWNSHIPS. 

Q. What officers do townships have ? 

A. They have three school trustees, one trustee being 
elected on the second Saturday in April each year ; and 
a school treasurer, elected biennially by the trustees. 

In counties under township organization, if any town- 
ships do not coincide with the bounds of organized 
towns, such townships also hold their election for school 
trustee on the second Saturday in April. And if a 
township lies partly in two or more counties, it never 
theless elects school trustees, and is governed in school 
matters as if it lay wholly in one county and was not 
coincident in its bounds with an organized town. 

In counties not under township organization, the 
county board divides the county into election precincts. 
Each precinct elects as many justices and constables as 
a town of equal population. 

Q. How many kinds of townships are there in Illi- 
nois? 



THE COUNTY. 87 



III. THE COUNTY. 

Q. What political division of the State is larger than 
the town ? 

A. The county. 

Q. In what county do you live? How large is it? 
Is it under township organization? If so, give tide 
names of its towns. Give its bounds. Name its seat 
What is a county seat? 

A. It is the city or village where the court-house and 
county offices are, and where the county business is 
done. 

COUNTY OFFICERS— THEIR TERMS OF OFFICE. 

Q. Name the officers of a county and give the term of 
each. 

A. County clerk, clerk of the circuit court, record* r, 
county judge, probate judge, State's attorney, sheriff, 
superintendent of schools, treasurer, surveyor, and coro- 
ner ; term, four years. In counties under township 
organization, supervisors ; one or more from each town, 
and one or more from each city in the county (the num- 
ber from cities being determined in the same way as in 
towns) ; term, one year. 

In counties not under township organization, instead 
of supervisors there are three commissioners, elected by 
the whole county for a term of three years. 

THE COUNTY BOARD— POWERS AND DUTIES, 

Q. What officers constitute the county board ? 
A. The supervisors or commissioners. 
Q. How many meetings do the supervisors hold in a 
year ? 



88 cka.wford's civil government. 

A. Two regular meetings, namely, on the second 
Monday in July and the second Tuesday in September ; 
and special meetings whenever one-third of their num- 
ber ask for such meetings. 

Q. How does the county board organize for business ? 

A. The first meeting of the year is called to order by 
the county clerk, when the supervisors proceed to elect 
one of their number chairman for the succeeding 
year. 

Q. What are the duties of the chairman ? 

A. To appoint the committees and preside over the 
meetings of the board. 

Q. What can you say about the committees ? 

A. A committee consists of three or more members 
of the board, whose special duty it is to look after some 
branch of the county business. Thus, the members of 
the committee for the poor see that the county farm for 
the support of the county's paupers is properly man- 
aged, and that the paupers are properly fed, clothed and 
housed. They also examine and allow or disallow bills for 
the support of the poor. This is called " auditing bills." 
Nearly all the county business is divided among the 
committees of the board, but each committee must 
report all its proposed acts to the board for its approval 
before the acts can be done. 

Q. What are some of the duties of the whole board ? 

A. To erect and furnish a court-house, jail, and other 
necessary county buildings. To levy special taxes for 
this and other purposes. 

To fix the pay of county officers, which can not be 
changed during the term for which the officers are 
elected. 

To take measures for prosecuting and defending the 
lawsuits of the county. 



THE COUNTY. 89 

To select grand jurors, and prepare a list from which 
the circuit clerk may draw petit jurors. 

To examine all bills against the county, and see that 
none are paid except those that are just. 

To examine the accounts of the county treasurer and 
count the money in the treasury twice a year. 

To publish in a paper of the county after each meet- 
ing a full report of all their acts. 

The supervisors must hold their meetings with open 
doors, and, if possible, in the court-house. 

They can not levy a tax of more than 75 cents on 
$100 valuation for ordinary county expenses, nor more 
than 100 cents on $100 valuation to pay a county debt, 
existing at the time of the adoption of the present State 
constitution, nor contract a bonded debt for the county, 
without first submitting the question of such tax or debt 
to a vote of the people. 

Q. Why is the county board required to hold its 
meetings with open doors, and to publish accounts of its 
proceedings ? 

THE GRAND JURY. 

Q What can you say about a grand jury ? 

A. A grand jury consists of twenty-three men. It is 
their duty to examine evidence against those accused of 
crime, and if the evidence is strong enough, to advise 
the court to put the accused on trial. The grand jury's 
advice in such a case consists in giving the court a paper 
called an " indictment," in which the criminal is named 
and his crime is described. A majority of the grand 
jury must vote in favor of an indictment before it can 
be presented to the court. The grand jury hears no 
evidence in defense, and its meetings are not open to the 
public. 



00 Crawford's civil government. 



PETIT JURY. 

Q. What can you say of a petit jury ? 

A. A petit jury consists of twelve men. It is their 
duty to hear the evidence on both sides of every case 
brought before them, and to decide the case according to 
the weight of the evidence and the law r that applies to 
that particular case. The law is explained to them by 
the judge. Their decision is called a " verdict." A 
verdict can not be given unless all the jury vote for it. 

COUNTY AND PROBATE COURT. 

Q. Are the offices of county judge and probate judge 
filled by one man or two men in your county ? 

Q. In what case are these offices separate ? 

A. In counties of 50,000 inhabitants two men may be 
elected to fill these offices. In counties of less than 
50,000 inhabitants, one man is elected to perform the 
duties of both offices. In this case he is called simply 
the " county judge," and his court is called the u county 
court. " 

Q. What jurisdiction have probate courts ? 

A. They have original jurisdiction in matters relating 
to wills, the settlement of estates of deceased persons, 
apprentices, guardians of minors, and conservators of 
the insane and the imbecile. 

Q. What is meant by " original jurisdiction? 5 '' 
By " exclusive jurisdiction ? " 

A. When a court has original jurisdiction in any mat- 
ters, suits about those matters may be commenced in; 
that court. 

When a court has exclusive jurisdiction in any mat- 
2 



THE COUNTY. 91 

ters, suits about such matters must be commenced in 
that court alone. 

Q. What jurisdiction have county courts ? 

A. They have exclusive jurisdiction in suits for the 
collection of taxes by sale of real estate, and concurrent 
jurisdiction with circuit courts in civil matters, in all 
cases like those brought before justices of the peace, if 
the amount in dispute does not exceed $1,000, and in 
criminal matters, if the punishment may not be im- 
prisonment in the penitentiary or death. County courts 
have also concurrent jurisdiction with circuit courts in 
cases appealed from justices of the peace and police 
magistrates. 

Q. What is meant by " concurrent jurisdiction? " 

A. Matters in which two or more courts have concur- 
rent jurisdiction can be brought before either of such 
courts. If A gives me a note for any sum less than 
$200, and when it is due refuses to pay, I can sue him 
before a justice of the peace, or in the county, or the 
circuit court, for all these have concurrent jurisdiction in 
such a case. 

Q. What are civil and criminal matters ? 

(See the chapter on The Town.) 

Q. What is it "to appeal" a case? 

A. It is to carry it, after trial, to a higher court for a 
new trial. The higher court, in such an event, is said 
to have "appellate jurisdiction." 

COUNTY AND PROBATE JUDGES. 

Q. What are the duties of county and probate 
judges ? 

A. To preside over the county and probate courts in 
their respective counties. 



92 Crawford's civil government. 

COUNTY CLERK. 

Q. Who is county clerk in your county ? 

Q- What are some of the duties of the county clerk? 

A. To attend the sessions of the county court, and 
make a record, in books kept for the purpose, of what- 
ever is done by the court. 

To keep a record of all the acts of the county board. 

To keep a record of all the orders for money drawn 
on the county treasurer. 

After every general election, to count, with the aid of 
two justices of the peace, the votes as returned to him 
by the judges of election in the various towns and pre- 
cincts of the county, and to send the result to the Secre- 
tary of State. 

To issue marriage licenses. 

To compute the tax of every person in the county, 
enter it in proper books, and issue these books to the 
collectors. 

Q. What books must the clerk have before he can 
compute the tax ? 

A. He must have the assessor's books, for in these the 
value of each person's property is set down. 

Q. How is the rate per cent, of taxation determined? 

(See your Arithmetic.) 

Q. What is a general election ? 

A. An election where any State officer is chosen, 

SHERIFF. 

Q Name the sheriff in your county ? 

Q. For how long a term is a sheriff elected? 

Q. What are some of a sheriff's duties ? 

A. To attend all the sessions of the county and circuit 
courts, to preserve order in the same, and to execute the 
commands of the court, 



THE COUNTY. 93 

To serve writs, summonses, subpoenas and other judi 
cial papers. 

To prevent disorderly conduct wherever he is, and to 
arrest offenders against the law. 

To have charge of the court-house and jail, to take 
criminals condemned to imprisonment to the peniten- 
tiary or house of correction, and to hang criminals con- 
demned to death. 

STATE'S ATTORNEY. 

Q. Name the State's attorney in your county ? 

Q. What are some of his duties ? 

A. To prosecute criminals. To draw indictments for 
the grand jury. 

To act as attorney for his county in all suits brought 
for or against it. 

To act as counsel for all county officers and justices of 
the peace in matters relating to their duties as repre- 
sentatives of the people. 

Q. Who is a criminal ? 

Ao One who has offended against a public law. 

Q. What is it " to prosecute " a criminal ? 

A. To prosecute a criminal is to have him arrested an 1 
brought into court, to bring evidence before the court 
intended to prove him guilty, and to ask the court to 
have him punished, if guilty. All criminals have a 
right to be tried by a jury. 

CORONER. 

Q. What are the duties of a coroner? 

A. To examine, with the aid of a jury, the body of 
any person killed by accident or having died from any 
mysterious cause, and to report such examination to the 
county clerk. 



94 crawfords civil government. 

To arrest, if necessary to prevent escape, any one 
suspected of killing the deceased. 

To act as sheriff, if the sheriffs office becomes vacant, 
or if the sheriff is interested in any suit. 

CIRCUIT CLERK AND RECORDER OF DEEDS. 

Q. What other offices, besides those of county and 
probate judge, are sometimes united and filled by one 
man ? 

A. The offices of clerk of the circuit court and re- 
corder of deeds. 

Q. Where are these offices united and where sep- 
arate ? 

A. In counties of less than 60,000 inhabitants they 
are united. In counties of 60,000, or more, they are 
separate. 

Q. What are some of the duties of clerk of the cir- 
cuit court ? 

A. To attend the sessions of the circuit court in his 
county, and make a record in books provided for the 
purpose of all the proceedings of that court. 

To keep an account of the costs of suits, such as fees 
of the sheriff, clerk, and witnesses. 

To issue process, that is, to write down the orders of 
the court, and give these orders to the sheriff and his 
assistants to execute. 

Q. Who pay the costs of suits ? 

A. Generally the persons against whom suits are de- 
cided. 

Q. What are the principal duties of recorders ? 

A. To obtain suitable books, and, when requested, to 
record in these, deeds, mortgages, and all other papers 
relating to the title to land, and to record also chattel 
mortgages. 



THE COUNTY. 95 

DEEDS. 

Q. What is a deed ? 

A. It is a writing showing that a certain piece of land 
described in it is the property of the person named in 
the writing as owner or grantee. 

RECORDING DEEDS. 

Q. What is " recording " a deed ? 

A. It is making a copy of it in one of the recorder's 
books. 

Q. What are deeds recorded for ? 

A. That the recorder's books may show who owns the 
land, if the deeds are lost. 

MORTGAGES. 

Q. What is a mortgage ? 

A. It is a writing showing that a certain piece of land, 
•or other property, will become the property of a person 
named in the writing and called the mortgagee, if the 
owner, or mortgagor, of the land or other property, 
does not pay the mortgagee a certain sum of money 
at a given time. A chattel mortgage is a mortgage of 
other property than land. 



TREASURER. 

Q. For what term is the county treasurer elected? 
(See page 22.) 

Q. Who is treasurer in your county ? 

Q. What are some of a treasurer's duties ? 

A. To receive and take care of all money paid for 
taxes, and to pay it out on the order of the county 
board, or in the manner specially provided by law. 

To keep books of his accounts as treasurer, and have 
them always open to the inspection of the public. 



96 Crawford's civil government. 

To report to the county board at each of its regular ses- 
sions all sums of money received and paid out by him. 

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. 

Q. Name the superintendent of schools in your 
county. When was he elected? When does his term 
expire ? 

Q. What are some of his duties ? 

A. To visit schools if so directed by the county board, 
notice the manner of teaching, branches taught, text 
books used, and the general condition of schools. To 
instruct teachers in the best methods of teaching. To 
hold county teachers' institutes. To hold examination 
tor teachers' license at least once every three months. 
To decide disputes on questions of school law. To divide 
the mone}' received from the State among the townships 
in proportion to the children under twenty-one years of 
age in each township. To examine and approve the bonds 
and books and accounts of township school treasurers be- 
fore issuing money to them. To remove from office 
directors who do not perform their duties properly, and 
to order new elections to fill such vacancies. To visit 
each school in the county, at least once a year. To re- 
port to the State superintendent whatever facts the latter 
needs for his report to the governor. 

THE DEPARTMENTS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 

Q. What departments has county government ? 

A. The same as town government ; namely, legisla- 
tive, executive and judicial. 

Q. Explain each ? 

A. The county board is the legislative or law-making 
department. It adopts measures for the benefit of the 
whole county, such as those for the erection of county 
buildings, for the care of the county's paupers, and so 
forth. 



THE COUNTY. 97 

The county clerk, treasurer, recorder, superintendent 
of schools, form the executive department. They exe- 
cute the laws made by the county board (and State 
legislature). The committees of the county board, act- 
ing as committees, also perform executive duties ; that 
is, they carry into effect the measures or laws passed by 
the whole board. 

The judicial department consists of the county judge, 
sheriff, State's attorney, coroner, and county clerk when 
he acts as clerk of the county court. It is the duty of 
these officers to enforce obedience to the laws made by 
the county board and the State legislature. The circuit 
clerk is not, strictly speaking, a member of either de- 
partment of the county government, although he is 
elected by the county. He is an officer of the circuit 
court, which will be described hereafter. 

Q. State the relation of the three departments ? 

A. The legislative department, by a vote of a majority 
of its members, commands that certain things be done. 
The executive officers do the things commanded, or 
cause them to be done. 

If these officers are resisted or hindered in their du- 
ties, the judicial officers help them by punishing the 
persons resisting or hindering. 

COUNTIES NOT UNDER TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. 

Q. What can you say of county government in coun- 
ties not under township organization ? 

A. The county board consists of three commissioners, 
elected for a term of three years. They have nearly all 
the powers of county supervisors, and have, besides, the 
powers of all town officers, except school officers. 
They hold five regular meetings a year. The other 
officers of such counties are the same as in counties 



98 Crawford's ciyil government. 

under township organization, and they have the same 
duties to perform, except that the sheriff acts also as 
county collector. 

COOK COUNTY. 
The county board of Cook County is composed of fif- 
teen members elected annually, ten of whom are elected 
from Chicago, and five from the towns outside of Chi- 
cago. Voters may vote for one of the candidates to be 
president of the board. 

COMPENS ATIO N— BONDS-OATH. 

Q. How is the pay of officers in all kinds of counties 
determined ? 

A. The county boards fix the amount of compensa- 
tion of each officer. 

Q. What must officers do before entering on the duties 
of their offices ? 

A. Such officers as have public money committed to 
their care must give bonds for their good behavior and 
faithfulness in office, and all must take an oath that they 
will support the constitution of the United States and 
the constitution of Illinois, and will faithfully perform 
the duties of their offices. 



IV. THE STATE. 
THE LEGISLATURE. 

Q. In treating of the government of the town and of 
the county, which department was described first ? 

A. The legislative or law-making. 

Q. Pursuing the same plan with the State, what is our 
next topic ? 

A. The legislature of Illinois. (The legislature is also 
called the " general assembly.") 

Q. Describe it, and explain the election of its mem- 
bers ? 

A. The legislature consists of two parts, known as 
the " lower house " and " upper house." Members of the 



THE STATE. 99 

lower house are called representatives. Members of the 
upper house are called senators. 

ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. 

The State is divided into fifty-one parts called " sena- 
torial districts." Each of these districts elects one sen- 
ator for a term of four years, and three representative?: 
for a term of two years. 

Q. What is u minority representation ? " 

A. In voting for representatives, every voter may 
cast three votes for one candidate, or one and a half for 
each of two, or one vote for each of three candidates. 
It is called " minority representation " because the party 
having a minority in a district, by casting all their votes 
for one candidate may sometimes elect him. 

Q. How large a part (at least) of the whole number 
of voters must the minority be in order to elect one 
candidate ? 

MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE. 

Q. How often does the legislature meet I 

A. Once in two years, unless called by the governor 

to meet oftener in extra session. 

Q. When does its regular session be^in I 

A. On Wednesday after the first Monday in January 

following the election of representative::;. 
Q. Where does it meet ? 
A. In the capitol building, in Springfield. 

DUTIES OF LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR AND SPEAKER. 

Q. What officers preside over the two houses ? 

A. The lieutenant-governor presides over the senate, 
an officer called the " speaker," elected from their own 
number by the representatives at the beginning of the 
session, presides over the house of representatives. 



100 ckawford's civil government. 

Q. What other important duty is performed by the 
speaker of the house ? 

A. He appoints the committees of the house. 

Q. What can you say about committees of the legis- 
lature ? 

A. A committee consists of three or more members, 
whose duty it is to attend to some particular subject of 
legislation. For example, the committee on education 
has charge of all matters relating to the public schools of 
the State, and it is the duty of this committee to advise 
the legislature what to do for the schools. The com- 
mittee's advice to the legislature is called its "report." 

Q. What is the chief rule for selecting members of 
committees ? 

A. A majority of each committee is taken from the 
political party which has a majority in the house to which 
the committee belongs. 

Q. Why is the appointment of committees a very im- 
portant duty ? 

A. Because nearly all the work of/ a legislature is 
done by its committees. Reports of committees are 
nearly always adopted by the legislature without mate- 
rial change. 

DUTIES OF THE LEGISLATURE. 

Q. What are the duties of the whole legislature ? 

A. To levy such taxes, make such appropriations, and 
enact such laws as are necessary for the welfare of the 
State. To impeach State officers; that is, to arraign and 
try them and deprive them of office for misconduct in 
office. 

Q. What is an appropriation ? 

A. A sum of money directed by the legislature to be 
used for a certain purpose ; as, for the support of the 



THE STATE. 101 

asylum for the insane, or the penitentiary, or the State 
normal schools. 

Q. What counties compose the senatorial district in 
which you live ? (See page 60.) 

Who is senator from your district ? Who are repre- 
sentatives ? 

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 

Q. What officers constitute the executive department 
of Illinois ? 

A. Governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of State, 
auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, 
and attorney -general. 

Q. For what terms are they elected? 

A. The treasurer for two years, the others for four 
years. 

The constitution declares that the treasurer shall not 
serve two consecutive terms. Why ? 

Q. Before entering on their duties what must they do ? 

A. Take the oath of office by swearing to support the 
constitutions of Illinois and the United States, and to 
perform faithfully the duties of their offices. All other 
State officers take the same oath. 

THE GOVERNOR. 

Q. What are the duties and powers of the governor ? 

A. To see that the laws made by the legislature are 
executed. 

To send to the legislature, when it meets, a message, 
giving an account of the condition of the State and its 
wants ; recommending the levying of sufficient tax to 
defray the expenses of the State government ; and 
specifying what new laws he thinks ought to be 
enacted, and what old laws repealed. To approve bills 



102 Crawford's civil government. 

passed by the legislature if he wishes them to become 
laws. 

The governor has power to reprieve criminals con- 
demned to death, and to pardon those imprisoned in the 
penitentiary. 

He is commander-in-chief of the State militia when it 
is not in the service of the United States. 

He appoints, with the consent of the senate, certain 
State officers. 

He may veto a bill passed by the legislature. 

Q. Can a bill become a law if it is vetoed by the 
governor ? 

A. Yes, if it is afterwards passed by a majority of 
two-thirds of both houses. 

Q. Can a bill become a law in any other way without 
the governor's approval ? 

A. Yes. If the governor does not return a bill to the 
house in which it originated w T ithin ten days from the 
time when he received it ; or, if the legislature prevents 
his returning the bill by adjourning, and if he does not 
thereupon file the bill with his objections in the office of 
the secretary of State within ten days after adjournment, 
the bill will become a law. 

Q. What compensation does the governor receive ? 

A. $6,000 per year, with the use of the executive 
mansion. 

WHO SUCCEEDS IF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE 
BECOMES VACANT. 

Q. Who succeeds to the office of governor if it be- 
comes vacant before the end of a term ? 
A. The lieutenant-governor. 
Q. What is the lieutenant-governors salary? 
A. $1,000 per year. 



THE STATE. 103 

Q. Who would succeed the lieutenant-governor if he 
should vacate the governor's office ? 

A. The president pro tern-, of the senate. (The presi- 
dent ^0 tern, is a member of the senate elected to pre- 
side in the absence of the lieutenant-governor.) 

Q. Who would succeed the president of the senate ? 

A. The speaker of the house. 

SECRETARY OF STATE. 

Q. What are the principal duties of the secretary of 
State ? 

A. To call the house of representatives to order, and 
preside till a temporary chairman is elected. (The latter 
presides while the house votes for speaker.) 

To safely keep all public acts, laws, and resolutions of 
the legislature. 

To care for public property in the capital. 

To certify to the correctness of laws when they are 
published. 

To take care of the seal of State. 

To issue registration blanks to judges of election pre- 
vious to every general election. 

To issue charters to corporations. 

To have charge of the public standards of weights 
and measures. 

To report biennially to the governor the business of 
his office. 

Q. What security must the secretary give for the 
faithful performance of his duties ? 

A. He must give a bond for $100,000. 

Q. What is his salary ? 

A. $3,500 per year. 



104 ckawfokd's civil government. 



AUDITOR. 

Q. What are the chief duties of auditor '{ 

A. To examine all bills presented for payment out of 
the State treasury, and to approve such as are legal. 

To keep an account of all bills due the State, and all 
sums of money paid into the State treasury. 

To ascertain the condition of all insurance companies 
doing business in the State ; learning whether they have 
means sufficient to keep the promises that they have 
made to those whose lives or property they have insured ; 
and if any have not, to revoke their certificates, or to in- 
form the attorney-general, who will then ask a court to 
have such companies stopped from doing any further 
business in the State. 

To aid the governor and treasurer in computing the 
rate per cent, of taxation necessary to raise the annual 
revenue fixed by the legislature. 

To report biennially to the governor the transactions 
of his office. 

Q. What security must the auditor give % 

A. A bond for $50,000. 

Q. What is his salary ? 

A. $3,500 a year. 

TREASURER 

Q. What are the principal duties of the treasurer ? 

A. To receive and safely keep all money belonging to 
the State. 

To pay out no money except on the order of the au- 
ditor. 

To report monthly to the auditor all sums of money 
received and paid out. 

To report biennially to the governor all his official 
acts. 



THE STATE. 105 

Q What security must the treasurer give for the 
faithful performance of his duty? 

A. A bond for $500,000, and more, if the governor 
so requires. His salary is $3,500 per year. 

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 

Q. What are some of the duties of the superintendent 
of public instruction ? 

A. To consult with leading teachers on methods of 
instruction. To advise and instruct county superintend- 
ents in respect to their duties. To give opinions on 
school laws when properly requested, To pay promptly 
to the proper officers all money coming into his hands as 
superintendent. To stop the payment of money to offi- 
cers or„teachers who refuse to conform to the require- 
ments of law. To report biennially to the governor, 
stating what has been done for the benefit of the schools 
of the State, in what ways their condition may be 
improved, and what changes should be made in the 
school laws. The superintendent must give a bond for 
$25,000. His salary is $3,500 per year. 

ATTORNEY-GENERAL, 

Q. What are some of the duties of the attorney-gen- 
eral? 

A. To act as attorney for the people or the State in 
suits before the supreme court. To act as attorney for 
the State officers in suits relating to their official duties. 
To advise State officers on questions of State constitu- 
tional law, when such law relates to their duties. To 
advise the legislature concerning constitutional ques- 
tions when requested. To see that sums of money in- 
tended for Slate institutions are used as intended. The 
attorney-general's bond is for $10,000. His salary is 
$3,500 a year. 



106 CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

RETURNING BOARD. 

Q. Who constitute the State returning board ? 

A. The secretary of State, auditor, treasurer, and 
attorney-general. 

Q. What is the duty of the returning board ? 

A. After every general election, to count the votes 
returned to them by the county clerks. 

STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION. 

The State board of equalization consists of one mem- 
ber from each congressional district in the State. The 
term is four years. The board meets on the second 
Tuesday in August, annually, at Springfield, to equalize 
assessments in the various counties of the State. It& 
members receive $5.00 per day for time actually spent 
about their duties, and 10 cents per mile of necessary 
travel in going to and returning from the capital. 

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

The State board of agriculture consists of a president, 
and one vice-president from each congressional district 
in the State, and of the last ex-president of the board. 
The board is elected biennially, on Wednesday of the 
State fair week, on the State fair grounds, by a conven- 
tion consisting of two or three delegates from each 
county in the State, who have power to cast three votea 
for their county. These delegates are chosen by the 
agricultural societies in the respective counties, or, in 
counties where no such societies exist, by the county 
board. The State board of agriculture has control of 
the department of agriculture, and of the State fairs and 
stock shows. 



THE STATE. 107 

APPOINTED OFFICERS. 

OFFICERS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR WITH CONSENT 
OF SENATE. 

Q. What State officers are appointed by the governor 
with the consent of the senate ? 

A. Three canal commissioners, five commissioners of 
public charities, three penitentiary commissioners for 
each penitentiary, nineteen justices of the peace for the 
city of Chicago, the seven members composing the State 
board of health, chief grain inspectors, notaries public, 
three railway and warehouse commissioners, three trus- 
tees for each of the State charitable institutions, and 
three for the State reform school, one person at the 
stock yards near Chicago, one at Peoria, and one at 
those in East St. Louis, to prevent cruelty to animals, 
and one public administrator in each county. 

COMMISSION OF CLAIMS. 

The commission of claims consists of three persons 
learned in law, selected from at least two political parties, 
appointed by the Governor with the consent of the senate, 
and holding office four years. The commission meets 
at the Capitol on the first Monday in August each year. 
It sits as a court to try claims against the State and the 
State institutions, and certain other claims. Its mem- 
bers receive $15.00 per day for a session of not exceed- 
ing ninety days in each year. 






OFFICERS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR ALONE. 

Q. What other officers are appointed by the governor ? 

A. Commissioner of deeds, printer expert, adjutant 

general, and all commissioned officers of the State militia. 



108 Crawford's civil government. 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR 
WITH CONSENT OF SENATE. 

Q. State the duties, terms of office, and pay of each 
of the above officers. 

A. The canal commissioners have charge of the 
Illinois and Michigan canal, and of the locks, dams and 
improvements in navigation of the Illinois and Little 
Wabash rivers. Their term is two years. Their pay is 
$5 per day for the time actually employed. They must 
each, except the treasurer of the board, give bonds for 
$25,000. The commissioner who acts as treasurer must 
give bonds for $50,000. 

It is the duty of commissioners of public charities to 
visit, at least twice a year, the State asylums for the deaf 
and dumb, the blind, the insane, and the school for 
feeble-minded children, the soldiers' orphans' home, and 
the State reform school, and to see that these institutions 
are properly conducted. Their term is five years. They 
receive no pay, but their expenses are repaid to them by 
the State. 

The Chicago justices of the peace perform the same 
duties as other justices, and derive their pay from fees 
regulated by law. They hold office for a term of four years. 

The penitentiary commissioners have power to appoint 
a warden for the penitentiary at a salary of $2,500, a 
deputy warden at $1,800, a chaplain at $1,500, a physi- 
cian at $1,500 per year, and, with the advice of the 
warden, such other officers as may be necessary, at sal- 
aries fixed by the commissioners. 

It is the duty of the commissioners to care for the 
penitentiary, and to this end to meet at the penitentiary 
once every month, and to receive reports from the war- 
den and other officers. They are required to report bi- 
ennially to the governor. 



THE STATE. 109 

Their term is six years. They must give bonds for 
$25,000. Their salary is $1,500 per year. 

One of the most important duties of the State board 
of health is to prevent the introduction of contagious 
diseases into the State. The members receive no pay, 
except for expenses. They may appoint a secretary at 
a salary fixed by themselves, but his salary and their 
expenses together must not exceed $5,000 per year. 
Their term is seven years. 

It is the duty of the railway and warehouse commis- 
sioners to examine the condition and management of all 
railways and warehouses in the State, and all matters 
relating to railways and warehouses as far as they affect 
the welfare of the people ; and to report annually to the 
governor, informing him whether warehouses and rail- 
ways are observing the laws of the State made for their 
regulation. The commissioners must give bonds for 
$20,000. Their salary is $3,500. Their term is two 
years. They can appoint a secretary at a salary of 
$1,500 per year. 

Chief grain inspectors have charge of the inspection 
of o-rain in warehouses, obey the instructions of the rail- 
way commissioners, and receive salaries fixed by them. 
Their term is two years. 

In all cities where there is State inspection of grain, 
the railway and warehouse commissioners appoint a 
State weigh-?7iaster and such assistants as may be neces- 
sary, whose duty it is to inspect scales, and supervise 
the weighing of grain or other property. 

The trustees of the State charitable and correctional 
institutions have power, and it is their duty, to appoint 
a superintendent for each institution, and to make rules 
for the government of the same. They receive no pay 
except for their expenses. Their term is six years. 



110 Crawford's civil government. 

The duty of the officers appointed to prevent cruelty to 
animals has been stated above. They hold office two 
years, and receive $1,200 a year. 

One public administrator is appointed in each county, 
whose duty it is to settle the estate of any person who 
dies in the county and leaves property, but no heirs or 
creditors. 

Notaries public have authority to administer oaths, 
take acknowledgment of legal instruments, such as 
deeds and mortgages, and to do some other acts, such as 
writing down the evidence of witnesses, called " taking 
depositions." These depositions have the same effect 
when read in court as evidence taken in court. 

DUTIES OF OFFICERS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR 
ALONE. 

Commissioners of deeds are officers appointed by tho. 
governor of this State, but residing in other States. 
They have authority to do about the same acts as are 
done by notaries public, which acts are of binding force 
in Illinois, though done in other States. All the above 
officers are paid in fees fixed by law. 

1^ printer expert is a man of at least six years' ex- 
perience as a practical printer, whose duty it is to 
examine the State contracts for printing, to see that the 
State is not cheated. His pay is $6 per day for the time 
actually spent about his duties. 

The adjutant-general is the officer through whom the 
governor, as commander-in-chief of the State militia, 
issues his orders to the militia. The adjutant-general 
receives $1,500 per year. 

Q. What is the acknowledgment of a deed ? 

A. It is the act of the person who signed the deed, in 



THE STATE. Ill 

going before a notary public or other officer and declar- 
ing that he signed the deed. 

STATE MILITIA. 

Q. What is the State militia ? 

A. All able-bodied men between eighteen and forty- 
five years of age are liable to be called upon to serve as 
soldiers. These constitute the State militia. This term 
is usually applied only to those who voluntarily form 
themselves into companies and regiments and receive 
arms from the State. 

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 
CIRCUIT COURTS. 

Q. What is the judicial department of a State? 

A. The judicial department of a State consists of 
those officers whose duty it is to explain and apply the 
laws of the State. 

Q. Have we learned that the subdivisions of the State 
have judicial departments ? 

A. Yes. Towns and precincts have justices of the 
peace and constables. Counties have county judges, 
clerks, sheriffs, and State's attorneys. 

Q. What court is next above the county court ? 

A. The circuit court. 

Q What can you say about the circuit courts of Il- 
linois ? 

A. The counties of the State, Cook county being ex- 
cepted, are arranged by the legislature in thirteen divi- 
sions, called circuits. Cook county alone constitutes a 

circuit. 

CIRCUIT COURT OFFICERS. 

In each circuit, except Cook County, three judges are 
elected once in six years. Two of these act as circuit 



112 CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

judges. The third acts as one of the judges of the ap- 
pellate courts. Court is held at least one term in a 
year in each county of the circuit. The number of 
judges in Cook County, at any given time, depends on 
the population of the county, and is fixed by act of the 
legislature. 

Q. Who are the other officers of the circuit courts ? 

A. The sheriffs and circuit clerks and their assistants, 
and masters-in-chancery in their respective counties. 

Q. Who else assist the judge in the performance of 
his duties ? 

A. The petit and grand juries. 

Q- What jurisdiction have circuit courts ? 

A. They have original jurisdiction in all criminal 
offences against the laws of Illinois, and in all civil dis- 
putes between citizens of the State. They have appel- 
late jurisdiction in cases tried before justices of the 
peace and the county court. 

Q. What are criminal offenses and civil disputes ? 
(See page 18.) 

APPELLATE COURTS. 

Q. What are the courts next above the circuit courts ? 

A. The appellate courts. 

Q. Describe these ? 

A. The State is divided into four apppellate court dis- 
tricts. Each district has three judges. These are ap- 
pointed by the supreme court from the judges elected in 
the circuits. Each district has a clerk, elected for a term 
of six years. The sheriff of the county in which the 
court is held must attend the sessions of the court or ap- 
point a deputy to do so. 

Q. What kinds of cases can be taken to the appellate 
courts ? 

A. Nearly all kinds of cases, except criminal cases 



THE STATE. 113 

called " felonies," may be taken by appeal to the appel- 
late courts. Cases of felony and a few other cases must 
be appealed directly to the supreme court. 

Q. What about the decisions of appellate courts ? 

A. In all cases where less than $1,000 is in dispute 
their decisions are final. If the sum in dispute is $1,000 
or more, an appeal may be taken from the appellate to 
the supreme court. 

THE SUPREME COURT. 

Q. What can you say of the supreme court ? 

A. The State is divided into three grand divisions for 
the purpose of holding terms of the supreme court. 
The court consists of seven judges, elected for a term of 
nine years. The State is divided into seven districts for 
the election of these judges, each district electing one. 
Each of the three grand divisions elects a clerk for a 
term of six years. 

Q. What jurisdiction has the supreme court? 

A. It has original jurisdiction in cases relating to the 
revenues of the State and in respect to two or three 
other matters, and appellate jurisdiction in civil cases in- 
volving $1,000 or more, and in criminal cases amounting 
to felony. Its decisions are final, except in cases of 
conflict between Illinois law and United States law. In 
such cases appeal can be taken to the supreme court of 
the United States. 

PAY OF OFFICERS OF THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 

Q. What are the salaries of the officers of the above 
courts ? 

A. Circuit judges receive $3,500 per j^ear, except in 
Cook county, where they receive $7,000. Circuit clerks 
receive salaries fixed by the county boards. Appellate 
judges receive the same pay as circuit judges. Judges 



114 CltAWFOKDS CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

of the supreme court receive $5,000 per year. Appel- 
late and supreme court clerks and masters-in-chancery 
receive their pay in fees regulated by law. 

All these officers must take the usual official oath, and 
the clerks must give bonds. 



V. CITIES. 

THEIR GOVERNMENT. 

Q. What other political units are there in Illinois be- 
sides towns, townships, and counties ? 

A. Cities and villages. 

Q. How many kinds of cities are there ? 

A. Two. 

Q. State the difference between them ? 

A. One is organized and governed according to a 
general law made by the legislature for the benefit of 
such cities as may vote to organize under it. 

The other is organized and governed in accordance 
with a special charter granted to it by the legislature. 

Q. What is a charter ? 

A. It is a grant of certain privileges, and is, besides, 
intended for the government of the corporation to which 
these privileges are given. 

OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES. 

Q. Describe the government of the first kind of cities ? 

A. Its legislative department consists of a body called 
the common council. The city is divided into a certain 
number of parts called " wards." Each of these elects 
two members of the council for a term of two years. 

The chief executive officer is a mayor, elected for a 
term of two years. 



CITIES. 115 

Other officers elected by the people are clerk, attorney, 
treasurer, police magistrate, and sometimes city judge. 

Besides these, the council may provide for the election 
by the people, or the appointment by the mayor, with 
the consent of the council, of a collector, marshal, 
or superintendent of police, superintendent of streets, 
corporation counsel, and such other officers as the coun- 
cil may deem necessary. 

Q. What are the council's duties ? 

A. To enact such ordinances and levy such taxes as 
are necessary for the city's welfare. 

To approve or reject the mayor's appointments of city 
officers. 

To take some action on the mayor's suggestions. 

To receive petitions of citizens. 

Q. What is an ordinance ? 

A. A law passed by a city council. 

Q. What are the mayor's duties ? 

A. To preside at the meetings of the council. 

To see that the measures passed by the council are 
executed. 

To appoint, with the council's consent, certain officers. 

He may veto measures passed by the council, but if 
the council afterward pass the same by a two-thirds 
majority, they become laws. 

Q. State the principal duties of the other city officers. 

A. The clerk keeps a record of the acts of the coun- 
cil. 

The marshal has command of the policemen, and with 
them preserves public order, by arresting and putting in 
jail all disorderly persons. 

The superintendent of streets keeps the streets and 
sidewalks in repair. 

The comptroller prevents the city from being robbed 



116 Crawford's civil government. 

by its officers, by examining the accounts of all officers 
who collect, pay out, or receive any of the city's money. 

The corporation counsel is the chief officer of the law 
department of the city. 

The police magistrates duties are the same as those 
of a justice of the peace (See page 18.) 

The attorney, treasurer and collector perform about 
the same duties for the city as the corresponding officers 
do for the county. 

Q. What can you say about the pay of city officers ? 

A. It is fixed by the council. 

Q. What can you say of the government of cities 
under special charters ? 

A. As each has its own charter, no two such cities 
are governed exactly alike, but all are more or less simi- 
lar in their government to cities organized under the 
general law. 



VI. VILLAGES. 

Q. What can you say of the government of villages ? 

A. Under a general law of the State, villages as well 
as cities may organize and have a government separate 
from that of the township in which they are located. 

Such village government consists of a president of the 
village, elected annually, a board of six trustees, three 
of whom are elected annually, and such officers as the 
trustees may appoint. 

The president and board have about the same powers 
and duties as mayor and council have in cities. 



GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 117 






VII. GOVEENMENT OF THE UNITED 

STATES. 

CONGRESS. 

Q. What is the legislature or law-making body of the 
United States called ? 

A. It is called Congress. 

Q. Tell about its meetings ? 

A. It holds one regular session a year, and extra ses- 
sions when called by the president. It meets in regular 
session, in Washington, on the first Monday in Decem- 
ber. 

Q. Describe Congress, and tell how its members are 
chosen ? 

A. It consists of two houses, the senate and the house 
of representatives. 

Each State is entitled to two senators. Senators are 
elected by the State legislatures for a term of six years. 

The number of representatives that a State is entitled 
to depends on its population. 

Once in ten years, that is, after each census, congress 
fixes the total number of members that the house of 
representatives shall have during the next ten years. 
Let the whole population of. the United States be a divi- 
dend, and the number of representatives a divisor ; the 
quotient will be the number of persons entitled to one 
representative. 

Divide the population of a State by this quotient and 
the number of representatives the State is entitled to 
will be obtained. 



118 Crawford's civil government. 

The legislature divides the State into districts equal m 
number to the representatives the State is entitled to. 
One representative is elected from each district every 
two years. 

Q. Who presides over the senate ? 

A. The vice-president. 

Q. How does the house ot representatives organize 
for business? 

A. By the election of a speaker, whose business it is 
to preside and appoint the house committees. 

Q. What are the powers and duties of congress ? 

(See U. S. Constitution, Article I., Section 8.) 

Q. What is the salary of senators and representa- 
tives ? 

A. $5,000 per year. 

Q. Who are the present senators from Illinois ? 

In what congressional district do you live ? (See 
page 58.) 

What counties comprise your district ? 

Who is its present representative, in congress ? 

When was he elected ? 

Who were the opposing candidates ? 

Who is the present speaker of the house oi representa- 
tives ? 

How many congressional districts are there in Illinois ? 
(See page 59.) 

Of how many members does the house of representa- 
tives now consist? 

A. 325. 

Q. Do territories have any representatives in con- 
gress ? 

A. Each territory is entitled to one delegate in the 



GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 119 

house, who has the right to speak on questions relating 
to his territory, but can not vote on any question. 



EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 

Q. Who constitute the executive department of the 
government of the United States ? 

A. The president, vice-president and cabinet officers. 

Q. How are the first two elected ? 

(See Article II;, Section 1, and the 12th Amendment 
to the U. S. Constitution.) 

Q. What are their salaries ? 

A. President, $50,000; vice-president, $8,000 per 
year. 

Q. Name the cabinet officers ? 

A. Secretary of State, secretary of the treasury, seo 
retary of war, secretary of the navy, secretary of the 
interior, postmaster-general, and attorney-general. 

Q. What general duties do cabinet officers perform ? 

A. They advise the president, and assist him in 
executing the laws made by congress. 

Q. What are the president's duties ? 

(See U. S. Constitution, Article II. , Sections 2 and 3.) 

Q. What are the special duties of the secretary of 
State ? 

A. To look after the relations of the United States 
with foreign countries, and to have charge of the public 
archives. 

Q. What are the principal duties of the secretary of 
the interior? 

A. To attend to the relations of Indian tribes to the 
government, to superintend public lands, to issue pa- 
tents. 



120 Crawford's civil government 

Q. What are the special duties of the othei cabinet 
officers? (Their names indicate their duties.) 

Q. What is the salary of a cabinet officer ? 

A. $8,000 per year. 

Q. Name the present president, vice-president, and 
cabinet officers ? 

When were the first two elected ? 

Who were the opposing candidates ? 

Q. Whom do we mean when we speak of the " admin- 
istration ? " 

A. The president and his cabinet. 

Q. Is it necessary to have the names of candidates for 
president and vice-president printed on a presidential 
ticket ? 

(See 12th Amendment of U. S. Constitution.) 

Could the electors be chosen in any other way than by 
a direct vote of the people ? 

Who succeeds to the presidency if it becomes vacant ? 

(See Article II., Section 1 of U. S. Constitution.) 

The president pro tern, of the senate would succeed 

the vice-president, and the speaker of the house would 

succeed the president of the senate in the presidential 

office. 

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 

Q. Describe the judicial department of the United 
States % 

A. It consists of one supreme court, nine circuit courts, 
and sixty-five district courts. The supreme court has 
one chief justice and eight associate justices. The cir- 
cuit courts have each one judge. There are fifty-three 
district judges. The district courts have, besides judges, 
district attorneys, marshals (who have substantially the 
same duties as sheriffs), clerks, and assistants of 
each. Ail the judges are appointed by the president, 



GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 121 

with the consent of the senate, and hold office during 
life or good behavior. 

Q. What salaries do United States judges receive ? 

A. The chief justice receives a salary of $10,500, the 
associates, $10,000 ; the circuit judges, $6,000 ; and the 
district judges $3,500 to $4,500. 

Q. What jurisdiction has the supreme court ? 

(See Constitution, Article III., Section 2, Paragraph 2.) 

Q. What are the principal duties of circuit and dis- 
trict courts ? 

A. To try offenders against the laws made by con- 
gress, and to hear suits between citizens of different 
States. 

Q. Who is the present chief justice ? 

Who is the circuit judge in your circuit ? 

Who is the district judge in your district? 

THE ARMY AND NAVY. 

Q. What can you say of the officers of the army and 
navy ? 

A. They are nearly all educated for their duties at the 

expense of the government in the military and naval 

academies at West Point and Annapolis. They are 

commissioned, that is, appointed to their places, by the 

president. 

THE CIVIL SERVICE. 

Q. What is the civil service of the United States ? 

A. The " civil service," comprises all officers of the 
national government, who are appointed by the presi- 
dent or his subordinates, except the officers of the army 
and the navy. 

Q. Name some of the officers of the civil service, and 
give their duties ? 

A. Ministers. It is the duty of a minister to reside 



122 Crawford's civil government. 

at the capital of the country to which he is sent, to 
protect citizens of his own country when abroad, and 
to see if possible that the country in which he resides as 
minister, and his own, maintain friendship for each other. 

Consuls. Their principal duties are to look after the 
foreign trade of their own country, and to settle dis- 
putes between the citizens of their own country, when 
the latter are abroad. 

Internal revenue officers. It is their chief duty to 
collect the tax on liquors and tobacco. 

Custom-house officers. They collect the tax laid on 
foreign goods brought into the United States. 

Postmasters, mail carriers and lighthouse-keepers are 
also members of the civil service. 

Q. Who is the present American minister to England ? 

Who is the English minister in Washington ? 

Who is collector of customs at the port of Chicago ? 

Who is the internal revenue collector in your district ? 

Who is postmaster at your post office ? 

Do you know any other members of the civil service ? 

Q. Do you know the meaning of the expression, 
" Civil Service Reform ? " 



VIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 

NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTION. 

•Q. Tell how candidates are put in nomination by a 
political party for the offices of president and vice- 
president ? 

A. The national committee, consisting of at least one 



MISCELLANEOUS. 1 23 

member from each State in the Union, publishes a call, 
announcing that on a certain day and in a certain city, 
there will be held a national convention of delegates 
from all the States (and sometimes the territories) to 
nominate candidates and adopt a platform. 

Each State committee then publishes a call for a State 
convention to appoint as many delegates to the national 
convention as the State may be entitled to. 

The county committees in each State then issue calls 
for county conventions to appoint delegates to the State 
convention. 

Lastly, the township committees appoint days for 
" primary meetings " or " caucuses" to elect delegates 
to the county conventions. 

The township, county, and State conventions having 
been held, the national convention follows at the ap- 
pointed time and place. When it meets, it is called to 
order by the chairman of the national committee, who 
nominates a temporary chairman of the convention. 
The convention usually accepts the chairman so nomi- 
nated. 

Committees on credentials, on permanent organization, 
on rules, and on platform, are then appointed. Each of 
these committees is composed of one member from each 
State and territory. The members are appointed by 
their respective delegations. 

The committee on credentials hears and determines 
the claims of delegates to seats as members of the con- 
vention 

The committee on permanent organization nominates 
a permanent chairman and other permanent officers of 
the convention. The committee on rules reports rules 
for the government of the convention. 

The committee on platform prepares and reports to 



124 Crawford's civil government. 

the convention a platform. A platform consists of cer- 
tain principles which the party through its convention 
professes to believe, and certain promises which the 
party agrees to perform if its candidates are elected. 

After the convention has chosen its permanent chair- 
man, and heard and acted on the reports of its commit- 
tees, it proceeds to vote by ballot for candidates for 
president and vice-president. 

After the candidates are nominated, the convention 
appoints a new national committee, and then adjourns. 

(Probably no two conventions proceed in exactly the 
same way, but it is believed that the above description 
corresponds closely to the general course pursued by 
national, and also by State conventions.) 

THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OF ILLINOIS. 

First — The first, second, third and fourth wards in 
Chicago, and the towns of Riverside, Hyde Park, Lake, 
Lyons, Calumet, Worth, Palos, Lemont, Thornton, Bre- 
men, Orland, Bloom, and Rich, in Cook county. 

Second — The fifth, sixth and seventh wards of Chi- 
cago, and that part of the eighth ward which lies south 
of the center of Polk street and of Macalister place. 

Third — The ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth 
and fourteenth wards of Chicago, and that part of the 
eighth ward which lies north of the center of Polk 
street and of Macalister place. 

Fourth — The fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth and 
eighteenth wards of Chicago, and the towns of Lake 
View, Jefferson, Ley den, Norwood Park, Evanston, 
Niles, Maine, Elk Grove, Schaumberg, Hanover, New 
Trier, Northfield, Wheeling, Palatine, Barrington, 
Cicero, and Proviso, in Cook county. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 125 

Fifth — Lake, McHenry, Boone, De Kalb and Kane 
counties. 

Sixth — Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Ogle, 
and Carroll. 

Seventh — Lee, Whiteside, Henry, Bureau and Put- 
nam. 

Eighth— La Salle, Kendall, Grundy, Will and Du 
Page. 

Ninth — Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Livingston, Wood- 
ford, and Marshall. 

Tenth — Peoria, Knox, Stark and Fulton. 

Eleventh — Rock Island, Mercer, Henderson, Warren, 
Hancock, McDonough and Schuyler. 

Twelfth — Cass, Brown, Adams, Pike, Scott, Greene, 
Jersey and Calhoun. 

Thirteenth — Tazewell, Mason, Menard, Sangamon, 
Morgan and Christian. 

Fourteenth — McLean, DeWitt, Piatt, Macon and 
Logan. 

Fifteenth — Coles, Edgar, Douglass, Vermilion and 
Champaign. 

Sixteenth — Cumberland, Clark, Jasper, Crawford, 
Clay, Richland, Lawrence, Wayne, Edwards and Wa 
bash. 

Seventeenth — Macoupin, Montgomery, Shelby, Moul 
trie, Effingham and Fayette. 

Eighteenth — Bond, Madison, St. Clair, Monroe and 
Washington. 

Nineteenth — Marion, Clinton, Jefferson, Franklin, 
Hamilton, White, Saline, Gallatin and Hardin. 

Twentieth — Perry, Randolph, Jackson, Williamson, 
Union, Johnson, Pope, Alexander, Pulaski and Massac* 



126 Crawford's civil government. 



SENATORIAL DISTRICTS. 

First — The ninth and tenth wards of Chicago, and 
that part of the eleventh ward north of the center line 
of Van Buren street. 

Second — That part of the fourth ward of Chicago 
south of the center line of Twenty-ninth street, and the 
towns of Hyde Park and Lake, in Cook county. 

Third — The first, second and third wards of Chicago, 
and that part of the fourth ward north of the center line 
of Twenty-ninth street. 

Fourth — That part of the eighth ward north of the 
center line of Taylor street, and that part of the eleventh 
ward south of the center line of Van Buren street and 
the twelfth ward of Chicago. 

Fifth — That part of the sixth ward west of the center 
line of Throop street, the seventh ward, and that part 
of the eighth ward south of the center line of Taylor 
street, in Chicago. 

• Sixth — The eighteenth ward, that part of the sixteenth 
ward east of the center line of Sedgwick street, and the 
fifteenth ward of Chicago, and the towns of Lake View 
and Evanston, in Cook county. 

Seventh — The towns of New Trier, Northtield, Wheel- 
ing, Palatine, Barrington, Hanover, Schaumberg, Elk 
Grove, Maine, Niles, Jefferson, Norwood Park, Leyden, 
Proviso, Cicero, Riverside, Lyons, Lemont, Palos, 
Worth, Calumet, Thornton, Bremen, Orland, Rich and 
Bloom, in Cook county. 

Eighth — Lake, McHenry and Boone counties. 

Ninth — The thirteenth ward, and all of the fourteenth 
ward except that portion thereof lying east of a line 
drawn from a point where the center line of Milwaukee 
avenue intersects the center line of Ohio street, north- 



MISCELLANEOUS. 127 

west along said center line of Milwaukee avenue to the 
center line* of Ashland avenue, thence north along the 
center line of Ashland avenue to the center line of Cly- 
bourne place, thence northeasterly along the center line 
of Clybourne place to the north branch of Chicago river, 
in the city of Chicago. 

Tenth — The counties of Winnebago and Ogle. 

Eleventh — The fifth ward and that part of the sixth 
ward east of the center line of Throop street, in Chi- 
cago. 

Twelfth — Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Carroll coun- 
ties. 

Thirteenth — That part of the fourteenth ward lying 
east of a line drawn from the intersection of the center 
line of Milwaukee avenue with the center line of 
Ohio street, northwest along the center line of 
said Milwaukee avenue to the center of Ashland 
avenue, thence north along the center line of Ashland 
avenue to the center line of Clybourne place, thence 
northeasterly along the center line of Clybourne place 
to the north branch of the Chicago river ; that part of 
the sixteenth ward west of the center line of Sedgwick 
street, and the seventeenth ward, in the city of Chicago. 

Fourteenth — Kane and Du Page counties. 

Fifteenth— Will. 

Sixteenth — Kankakee and Iroquois. 

Seventeenth — De Kalb, Kendall and Grundy. 

Eighteenth — Livingston and Ford. 

Nineteenth — Whiteside and Lee. 

Twentieth — Marshall, Woodford and Tazewell. 

Twenty-first — Rock Island and Henry. 

Twenty-second — Knox and Fulton. 

Twenty-third — La Salle. 

Twenty-fourth — Hancock, Henderson and Mercer. 



128 CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

Twenty-fifth — Bureau, Stark and Putnam. 

Twenty-sixth— Peoria county. 

Twenty-seventh — Warren and McDonough. 

Twenty -eighth — McLean. 

Twenty-ninth — Logan and Macon. 

Thirtieth — Champaign, Piatt and De Witt. 

Thirty-first — Vermilion and Edgar. 

Thirty-second — Douglass, Coles and Cumberland. 

Thirty-third — Moultrie, Shelby and Effingham. 

Thirty-fourth — Mason, Menard, Cass and Schuyler* 

Thirty-fifth — Adams. 

Thirty-sixth — Brown, Pike and Calhoun. 

Thirty-seventh — Scott, Greene and Jersey. 

Thirty-eighth — Macoupin and Morgan. 

Thirty- ninth — Sangamon. 

Fortieth — Christian and Montgomery. 

Forty-first — Madison. 

Forty-second — Bond, Clinton and Washington. 

Forty-third — Fayette, Marion and Jefferson. 

Forty-fourth — Clay, Richland, Wayne and Edwards. 

Forty-fifth — Clark, Jasper and Crawford. 

Forty-sixth — Hamilton, White, Wabash and Law- 
rence. 

Forty-seventh — St. Clair. 

Forty-eighth — Monroe, Randolph and Perry. 

Forty-ninth — Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope and 
Massac. 

Fiftieth — Jackson, Union and Alexander. 

Fifty-first — Franklin, Williamson, Johnson and Pu- 
laski. 

GRAND DIVISIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT. 

Southern Grand Division — Terms held at Mount 
Vernon. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 1 23 

Counties of Alexander, Bond, Clay, Clinton, Craw- 
ford, Edwards^ Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, 
Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, 
Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, 
Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland Saline, St. Clair, 
Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White and Wil- 
liamson. 

Central Grand Division — Terms held at Springfield. 

Counties of Adams, Brown, Cass, Calhoun, Cham- 
paign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, De Witt, 
Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Jer- 
sey, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, McDonough, 
McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, 
Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Taze- 
well and Vermilion. 

Northern Grand Division — Terms held at Ottawa. 

Counties of Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, De Kalb, 
Du Page, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jo 
Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake, La 
Salle, Lee, Livingstone, Marshall, McHenry, Mercer, 
Ogle, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Stephenson, 
Warren, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford. 

ELECTION DISTRICTS OF SUPREME COURT. 

First District — The counties of St Clair, Clinton, Wash- 
ington, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, White, 
Hamilton, Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Monroe, Jackson, 
Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope, Union, 
Johnson, Alexander, Pulaski and Massac. 

Second District — The counties of Madison, Bond, 
Marion, Clay, Richland, Lawrence, Crawford, Jasper, 
Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Macoupin, Shelby, 
Cumberland-, Clark, Greene, Jersey, Calhoun and Chris- 
tian. 



130 cuawfokd's civil government. 

Third District — The counties of Sangamon, Macon, 
Logan, De Witt, Piatt, Douglas, Champaign, Vermillion, 
McLean, Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, Coles, Edgar, 
Moultrie and Tazewell. 

Fourth District — The counties of Fulton, McDonough, 
Hancock, Schuyler, Brown, Adams, Pike, Mason, Me- 
nard, Morgan, Cass and Scott. 

Fifth District— The counties of Knox, Warren, Hen- 
derson, Mercer, Henry, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Put- 
nam, Bureau, La Salle, Grundy and Woodford. 

Sixth District — The counties of Whiteside, Carroll, 
Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, 
Kane, Kendall, De Kalb, Lee, Ogle and Rock Islpnd. 

Seventh District — The counties of Lake, Cook, Will, 
Kankakee and Du Page. 

APPELLATE COURT DISTRICTS. 

First District — Cook county. 

Second District — It includes the counties embraced 
in the northern grand division of the supreme court, 
except Cook county. 

Third District — It includes the counties embraced 
within the central grand division of the supreme court. 

Fourth District — It includes the counties embraced 

within the southern grand division of the supreme 

court. 

CIRCUIT COURTS. 

First Circuit — The counties of Franklin, Saline, Wil- 
liamson, Jackson, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Mas- 
sac, Pulaski and Alexander. 

Second Circuit — The counties of Cumberland, Effing- 
ham, Clay, Jasper, Richland, Lawrence, Crawford, Jef- 
ferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, White, Hamilton 
and Gallatin. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 131 

Third Circuit — The counties of Bond, Madison, St. 
Clair, Marion, Clinton, Washington, Randolph, Monroe 
and Perry. 

Fourth Circuit — The counties of Vermilion, Edgar, 
Clark, Coles, Douglas, Champaign, Piatt, Moultrie and 
Macon. 

Fifth Circuit — The counties of Sangamon, Macoupin, 
Christian, Montgomery, Fayette and Shelby. 

Sixth Circuit — The counties of Hancock. Adams, 
Fulton, McDonough, Schuyler, Brown and Pike. 

Seventh Circuit — The counties ot' De Witt, Logan, 
Menard, Mason, Cass, Morgan, Scott, Greene, Jersey 
and Calhoun 

Eighth Circuit — The counties of Putnam, Marshall, 
Woodford, Tazewell, Peoria and Stark. 

Ninth Circuit — The counties of Bureau, La Salle, 
Will and Grundy. 

Tenth Circuit — The counties of Rock Island, Mercer, 
Henry, Henderson, Warren and Knox. 

Eleventh Circuit — The counties of McLean, Ford, 
Kankakee, Iroquois and Livingston. 

Twelfth Circuit — The counties of Boone, De Kalb. 
McHenry, Lake, Kane, Du Page and Kendall. 

Thirteenth Circuit — The counties of Jo Daviess, 
Stephenson, Winnebago, Carroll, Whiteside, Ogle and 
Lee. 

Cook county alone constitutes another circuit. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 



I. Boundaries of the State 135 

II. Bill of Rights _ 135 

§1. Inherent and Inalienable Rights ; §2. Due Process of Law; 
§3. Liberty of Conscience Guaranteed; §4. Freedom of the 
Press — Libel ; §5. Right of Trial by Jury ; §6. Unreasonable 
Searches and Seizures ; §7. Bail Allowed — Writ of Habeas 
Corpus; §8. Indictment Required— Grand Juiy Abolished; 
§9. Rights of Persons Accused of Crime; §10. Self Crimina- 
tion — Former trial; §11. Penalties proportionate — Corruption 
— Forfeiture; §12. Imprisonment for debt; §13. Compensation 
for Property taken ; §14. Ex post facto laws — Irrevocable 
Grants; §15. Military Power Subordinate; §16. Quartering of 
Soldiers; §17. Right of Assembly and Petition; §18. Elections 
to be Free and Equal ; §19. What Laws ought to be ; §20. 
Fundamental Principles. 

III. Distribution of Powers 137 

IV. Legislative Department 137 

§1. General Assembly elective; §2. Time of Election — Vacancies; 
§3. Who are eligible; §4. Disqualification by Crime; §5. Oath 
taken by members ; §6 Senatorial Apportionments; §7. & 8. 
Minority Representation; §9. Timeof meeting — General Rules; 
§10. Secrecy — Adjournment — Journals — Protests ; §11. Style 
of laws ; §12. Origin and passage of Bills ; §13. Reading - 
Printing — Title — Amendments; §14. Privileges of members; 
§15. Disabilities of members ; §16. Bills making Appropria- 
tions ; §17. Payment of money — Statement of Expenses; 
§18. Ordinary Expenses — Casual Deficits — Appropriations 
limited; §19. Extra Compensation or Allowance; §20. Public 
Credit not loaned ; §21. Pay and mileage of members ; §22. 
Special Legislation prohibited ; §23. Against Release from 
Liability; §24. Proceedings on Impeachment; §25. Fuel, Sta- 
tionery and Printing; §26. State not to be sued- §27- Lotteries 
and Gift Enterprises; §28. Terms of office not Extended; §29. 
Protection of operative miners; §30. Concerning roads — pub 
lie and private; §31. Draining and ditching; §32. Homestead 
and Exemption Laws; §33. Completion of the State House. 

V. Executive Department 146- 

132 






CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 133 

§1. Officers of this Department ; §2. Of the State Treasurer ; §3. 
Time of Electing State Officers; §4. Returns — lie— Contested 
Election; §5. Eligibility for Office; §6. Governor — Power and 
Duty ; §7. His Message and Statement ; §8. Convening the 
G.eneral Assembly ; §9. Proroguing the General Assembly ; 
§10. Nominations by the Governor; §11. Vacancies may be 
filled; §12. Removals by the Governor; §13. Reprieves— Com- 
mutations — Pardons; §14. Governor as Commander-in- 
Chief ; §15. Impeachment for Misdemeanor; §16. Veto of the 
Governor ; §17. Lieutenant Governor as Governor ; §18. As 
President of the Senate ; §19. Vacancy in Governor's Office ; 
§20. Vacancy in other State Offices ; §21. Reports of State 
Officers; §22. Great Seal of State; §23. Fees and Salaries; 
§24. Definition of " Office"; §25. Oath'of Civil Officers. 

VI. Judicial Depaktment 151 

§1. Judicial Powers of Courts ; §2. Seven Supreme Judges — Four 
Decide; §3. Qualifications of a Supreme Judge ; §4 Terms of 
the Supreme Court; §5. Three Grand Divisions — Seven Dis- 
tricts ; §6. Election of Supreme Judges ; §7. Salaries of the 
Supreme Judges; §8. Appeals and Atyrits of Error; §9. Ap- 
pointment of Reporter ; §10. Clerks of the Supreme Court; 
§11, Appellate Courts Authorized ; §12. Jurisdiction of Cir- 
cuit Courts ; §13 Formation of Judicial Circuits ; §14. Time 
of holding Circuit Courts ; §15. Circuits containing Four 
Judges; §16. Salaries of the Circuit Judges; §17. Qualification 
of Judges or Commissioners ; §18. County Judges — County 
Clerks; §19. Appeals from County Courts; §20. Probate 
Courts Authorized; §21. Justices of the Peace and Constables; 
§22. State's Attorney in each County ; §23. Cook County 
Courts of Record; §3-1. Chief Justice — Power of Judges; 
§25. Salaries of the Judges ; §26. Criminal Court of Cook 
County ; §27. Clerks of Cook County Court ; §28. Justices in 
Chicago; §29. Uniformity in the Courts; §30. Removal of any 
Judge ; §31. Judges to make Written Reports ; §32. Terms of 
Office— Filling Vacancies; §33. Process — Prosecutions — Popu- 
lation. 

VII. Suffrage 158 

§1. Who are Entitled to Vote ; §2. All Voting to be by Ballot ; §3. 
Privileges of Electors ; §4. Absence "on Public Business ; 
§5. Soldier not Deemed a Resident ; §6. Qualifications for Of- 
fice; §7. Persons Convicted of Crime. 

VIII. Education _ 159 

§1. Free Schools Established; §2. Gifts or Grants in Aid of Schools; 
§3. Public Schools not to be Sectarian ; §4. School Officers not 
Interested; §5. County Superintendents of Schools. 

IX. Revenue 159 



134 Crawford's civil government. 

§1. Principle of Taxation Stated ; §2. Other and Further Taxation ; 
§3. Property Exempt from Taxation ; §4. Sale of Real 
Property for Taxes ; §5. Right of Redemption Therefrom ; 
§6. Release from Taxation Forbidden ; §7. Taxes Paid into 
State Treasury ; §8. Limitation on County Taxes ; §9. Local 
Municipal Improvements; §10. Taxation of Municipal Corpor- 
ations ; §11. Defaulter not to be Eligible ; §12. Limitation on 
Municipal Indebtedness. 

X. Counties 162 

§1. Formation of New Counties ; §2. Division of any County ; §3. 
Territory Stricken from a County ; §4. Removal of a County 
Seat ; §5. Methods of County Government ; §6. Board of 
County Commissioners ; §7. County Affairs in Cook County 
§8. County Officers— Terms of Office; §9. Salaries and Fees in 
Cook County ; §10. Salaries Fixed by County Board ; §11. 
Township Officers — Special Laws ; §12. All Future Fees Uni- 
form; §13. Sworn Report of All Fees. 

XL Corporations _ 165 

§1. Established only by General Laws ; §2. Existing Charters — How 
Forfeited ; §3. Election of Directors or Managers ; §4. Con- 
struction of Street Railroads; §5 State Bank Forbidden— Gen 
eral Law; §6. Liability of Bank Stockholder ; §7. Suspension 
of Specie Payment; §8. Of a General Banking Law; §9. Rail- 
road Office— Books and Records ; §10. Personal Property of 
Railroads; §11. Consolidations Forbidden; §12 Railroads 
Deemed Highways — Rates Fixed ; §13. Stocks, Bonds and 
Dividends; §14. Power Over Existing Companies; §15. Freight 
and Passenger Tariffs Regulated. 

XII. MiLiTrA ._ 168 

§1. Persons Composing the Militia; §2. Organization— Equipment — 
Discipline ; §3. Commissions of Officers ; §4. Privilege from 
Arrest; §5 Records, Banners and Relics; §6. Exemption from 
Militia Duty. 

XIII. Warehouses _. 168 

§1. What Deemed Public Warehouses; §2. Sworn Weekly State- 
ments Required; §3. Examination of Property Stored; §4. 
Carriers to Deliver Full Weight; §5. Delivery of Grain by- 
Railroads ; §6. Power and Duty of the Legislature ; §7. 
Grain Inspection — Protection of Dealers. 

XIV. Amendments to the Constitution 170 

§1. By a Constitutional Convention ; §2. Proposed by the Legis- 
lature. 

Schedule __ _ _ 171 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 135 



PREAMBLE. 

We, the people of the State of Illinois— grateful to Alraighly God 
for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long 
permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our 
endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding 
generations — in order to form a more perfect government, establish 
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, 
promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to 
ourselves and our posterity; do ordain and establish this constitution 
for the State of Illinois. 

ARTICLE I —BOUNDARIES. 

The boundaries and jurisdiction of the State shall be as follows, 
to wit : Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river ; thence up the 
same, and with the line of Indiana, to the northwest corner of said 
State ; thence east, with the line of the same State, to the middle of 
Lake Michigan ; thence north, along the middle of said lake, to north 
latitude 42 degrees and 30 minutes; thence west to the middle of the 
Mississippi river, and thence down along the middle of that river to 
its confluence with the Ohio river, and thence up the latter river, 
along its northwestern shore, to the place of beginning: Provided, that 
this State shall exercise such jurisdiction upon the Ohio river as she 
is now entitled to, or such as may hereafter be agreed upon by this 
State and the State of Kentucky. 

ARTICLE II.— BILL OF RIGHTS. 

§ 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and have cer- 
tain inherent and inalienable rights— among these are life, liberty 
and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights and the pro- 
tection of property, governments are instituted among men, deriving 
their just powers from the consent of the governed. 

§ 2. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or proper! } r , 
without due process of law. 

§ 3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and 
worship, without discrimination, shall forever be guaranteed ; and no 
person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capa- 
city, on account of his religious opinions ; but the liberty of con- 
science hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths 
or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices in- 
consistent with the peace or safety of the State. No person shall be 
required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship 



136 Crawford's civil government. 

against his consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any 
religious denomination or mode of worship. 

§ 4. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all 
subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty ; and in all 
trials for libei, both civil and criminal, the truth, when published 
with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient 
defense. 

§ 5 The right of trial by jury as heretofore enjoyed, shall re- 
main inviolate ; but the trial of civil cases before justices of the 
peace by a jury of less than twelve men, may be authorized by law. 

§ 6. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, 
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall 
not be violated ; and no warrant shall issue without probable cause, 
supported by affidavit, particularly describing the place to be 
searched, and the person or things to be seized. 

§ 7. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for 
capital offenses, where the proof is evident or the presumption great; 
and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, 
unless when in cases of rebellion or -invasion the public safety may 
require it. 

§ 8. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense un- 
less on indictment of a grand jury, except in cases in which the pun- 
ishment is by fine, or imprisonment otherwise than in the peniten- 
tiary, in cases of impeachment, and in cases arising in the army and 
navy or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public 
danger: Provided, that the grand jury may be abolished by law in all 
cases. 

§ 9. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the 
right to appear and defend in person and by counsel ; to demand the 
nature and cause of the accusation, and to have a copy thereof ; to 
meet the witnesses face to face, and to have process to compel the 
attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy public trial by an 
impartial jury of the county or district in which the offense is alleged 
to have been committed. 

§ 10. No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to give 
evidence against himself, or be twice put in jeopardy for the same 
offense. 

§ 11. All penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the of- 
fense: and no conviction shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture 
of estate ; nor shall any person be transported out of the State for 
any offense committed within the same. 

§ 12. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, unless upon refusal 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 137 

to deliver up his estate for the benefit of his creditors, in such man- 
ner as shall be prescribed by law ; or in cases where there is strong 
presumption of fraud. 

§ 13. Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public 
use without just compensation. Such compensation, when not made 
by the State, shall be ascertained by a jury, as shall be prescribed by 
law r . The fee of land taken for railroad tracks without consent of 
the owners thereof, shall remain in such owners, subject to the use 
for which it is taken. 

§ 14. No ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of 
contracts, or making any irrevocable grant of special privileges or 
immunities, shall be passed. 

§ 15. The military shall be in strict subordination to the civil 
power. 

§ 16. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any 
house without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war except 
in the manner prescribed by law. 

§ 17. The people have the right to assemble in a peaceable man- 
ner to consult for the common good, to make knowm their opinions 
to their representatives, and to apply for redress of grievances. 

§ 18. All elections shall be free and equal. 

§ 19. Every person ought to find a certain remedy in the laws 
for all injuries and wrongs which he may receive in his person, pro- 
perty, or reputation; he ought to obtain, by law, right and justice 
freely, and without being obliged to purchase it, completely and 
without denial, promptly and without delay. 

§ 20. A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of 
civil government is absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of 
liberty. 

ARTICLE III.— DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS. 

The powers of the government of this State are divided into three 
distinct departments — the legislative, executive and judicial; and no 
person, or collection of persons, being one of these departments, 
shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, 
except as hereinafter expressly directed or permitted. 

ARTICLE IV.— LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. 

§ 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a general assembly, 
which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives, both to 
be elected by the people. 






138 Crawford's ciyil government. 



ELECTION. 

§ 2. An election for members of the general assembly shall be 
held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and e very- 
two years thereafter, in each county, at such places therein as may 
be provided by law. When vacancies occur in either house, the 
governor or person exercising the powers of governor, shall issue 
writs of election to fill such vacancies. 

ELIGIBILITY AND OATH. 

§ 3. No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained the 
age of twenty-five years, or a representative who shall not have at- 
tained the age of twenty-one years. No person shall be a senator or 
a representative who shall not be a citizen of the United States, and 
who shall not have been for five years a resident of this State, and 
for two years next preceding his election a resident within the terri- 
tory forming the district from which he is elected. No judge or 
clerk of any court, secretary of state, attorney -general, state's attor- 
ney, recorder, sheriff, or collector of public revenue, member of 
either house of congress, or person holding any lucrative office under 
the United States or this State, or any foreign government, shall have 
a seat in the general assembly: Provided, that appointments in the 
militia, and the offices of notary public and justice of the peace shall 
not be considered lucrative. Nor shall any person, holding any 
office of honor or profit under any foreign government, or under the 
government of the United States (except post-masters whose annual 
compensation does not exceed the sum of $300), hold any office of 
honor or profit under the authority of this State. 

§ 4. No person who has been, or hereafter shall be, convicted of 
bribery, perjury or other infamous crime, nor any person who has- 
been or may be a collector or holder of public moneys, who shall not 
have accounted for and paid over, according to law, all such moneys 
due from him, shall be eligible to the general assembly, or to any 
office of profit or trust in this State. 

§ 5. Members of the general assembly, before they enter upon? 
their official duties, shall take and subscribe to the following oath or 
affirmation. 

" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitu- 
tion of the United. States, and the constitution of the State of Illinois, 
and will faithfully discharge the duties of senator (or representative) 
according to the best of my ability; and that I have not, knowingly 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 139 

or intentionally, paid or contributed anything, or made any promise 
in the nature of a bribe, to directly or indirectly influence auy vote at 
the election at which I was chosen to fill the said office, and have not 
accepted, nor will I accept or receive, directly or indirectly, any 
money or other valuable thing, from any corporation, company or 
person, for any vote or influence I may give or withhold on any bill, 
resolution or appropriation, or for any other official act." 

This oath shall be administered by a judge of the supreme or 
circuit court, in the hall of the house to which the member is elected, 
and the secretary of state shall record and file the oath subscribed by 
each member. Any member who shall refuse to take the oath herein 
prescribed, shall forfeit his office, and every member who shall be 
convicted of having sworn falsely to, or of violating, his said oath, 
shall forfeit his office, and be disqualified thereafter from holding 
any office of profit or trust in this State. 

APPORTIONMENT— SENATORIAL. 

§ 6. The general assembly shall apportion the State every 10 
years, beginning with the year 1871, by dividing the population of 
the State, as ascertained by the federal census, by the number 51, 
and the quotient shall be the ratio of representation in the senate. 
The State shall be divided into 51 senatorial districts each of which 
shall elect one senator, whose term of office shall be four years. 
The senators elected in the year of our Lord 1872, in districts bearing 
odd numbers, shall vacate their offices at the end of two years, and 
those elected in districts bearing even numbers, at the end of four 
years; and vacancies occurring by the expiration of term, shall be 
filled by the election of senators for the fall term. Senatorial dis- 
tricts shall be formed of contiguous and compact territory, bounded 
by county lines, and contain as nearly as practicable an equal num- 
ber of inhabitants; but no district shall contain less than four-fifths 
of the senatorial ratio. Counties containing not less than the ratio 
and three fourths, may be divided into separate districts, and shall 
be entitled to two senators, and to one additional senator for each 
number of inhabitants equal to the ratio, contained by such counties 
in excess of twice the number of said ratio. 

NOTE.— By the adoption of minority representation, § § 7 and 8, of tliis article, 
cease to be a part of the constitution. Under § 12 of the schedule, and the vote of 
adoption, the following section relating to minority representation is substituted for 
said sections: 

MINORITY REPRESENTATION. 

§§ 7 and 8. The house of representatives shall consist of three 
tjmes the number of the members of the senate, and the term of 



140 Crawford's civil government. 

office shall be two years. Three representatives shall be elected in 
each senatorial district at the general election in the year of our Lord 
1872, and every two years thereafter. In all elections of representa- 
tives aforesaid, each qualified voter may cast as mauy votes for one 
candidate as there are representatives to be elected, or may distribute 
the same, or equal parts thereof, among the candidates, as he shall 
see fit; and the candidates highest in votes shall be declared elected. 

TIME OF MEETING AND GENERAL RULES. 

§ 9. The sessions of the general assembly shall commence at 12 
o'clock noon, on the Wednesday next after the first Monday in Jan- 
uary, in the year next ensuing the election of members thereof, and 
at no other time, unless as provided by this constitution. A majority 
of the members elected to each house shall constitute a quorum. 
Each house shall determine the rules of its proceedings, and be the 
judge of the election, returns and qualifications of its members; shall 
choose its own officers; and the senate shall choose a temporary 
president to preside when the lieutenant-governor shall not attend as 
president or shall act as governor. The secretary of state shall call 
the house of representatives to order at the opening of each new 
assembly, and preside over it until a temporary presiding officer 
thereof shall have been chosen and shall have taken his seat. No 
member shall be expelled by either house, except by a vote of two- 
thirds of all the members elected to that house, and no member shall 
be twice expelled for the same offense. Each house may punish by 
imprisonment any person, not a member, who shall be guilty of dis- 
respect to the house by disorderly or contemptuous behavior in its 
presence. But no such imprisonment shall extend beyond 24 hours 
at one time, unless the person shall persist in such disorderly or con- 
temptuous behavior. 

§ 10. The doors of each house and of committees of the whole 
shall be kept open, except in such cases as, in the opinion of the 
house, require secrecy. Neither house shall, without the consent 
of the other, adjourn for more than two days, or to any other place 
than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. Each house shall 
keep a journal of its proceedings, which shall be published. In the 
senate at the request of two members, and in the house at the request 
of five members, the yeas and nays shall be taken on any question, 
and entered upon the journal. Any two members of either house 
shall have liberty to dissent from and protest, in respectful language, 
against any act or resolution which they think injurious to the public 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 141 

or to any individual, and have the reasons of their dissent entered 
upon the journals. 

STYLE OF LAWS AND PASSAGE OF BILLS. 

§11. The style of the laws of this State shall be : Be it enacted 
by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly. 

§ 12. Bills may originate in either house, but may be altered, 
amended or rejected by the other; and on the final passage of all bills, 
the vote shall be by yeas and nays, upon each bill separately, and 
shall be entered upon the journal; and no bill shall become a law 
without the concurrence of a majority of the members elected to 
each house. 

§ 13. Every bill shall be read at large on three different days, in 
each house; and the bill and all amendments thereto, shall be printed 
before the vote is taken on its final passage; and every bill, having 
passed both houses, shall be signed by the speakers thereof No act 
hereafter passed shall embrace more than one subject, and that shall 
be expressed in the title. But if any subject shall be embraced in an 
act which shall not be expressed in the title, such act shall be void 
only as to so much thereof as shall not be so expressed; and no law 
shall be revive;! *>r amended by reference to its title only, but the law 
revived, or the section amended, shall be inserted at length in the 
new act. And no act of the general assembly shall take effect until 
the first day of July next after its passage, unless, in case of emer- 
gency, (which emergency shall be expressed in the preamble or body 
of the act), the general assembly shall, by a vote of two thirds of all 
the members elected to each house, otherwise direct. 

PRIVILEGES AND DISABILITIES. 

§ 14. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases, except 
treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest dur- 
ing the session of the general assembly, and in going to and returning 
from the same; and for any speech or debate in either house, they 
shall not be questioned in any other place. 

§ 15. No person elected to the general assembly shall receive any 
civil appointment within this State from the governor, the governor 
and senate, or from the general assembly, during the term for which 
he shall have been elected; and all such appointments, and all votes 
given for any such members for any such office or appointment, shall 
be void; nor shall any member of the general assembly be interested, 
either directly or indirectly, in any contract with the State, or any 
county thereof, authorized by any law passed during the term for 



142 Crawford's civil government. 

-which he shall have been elected, or within one year after the ex- 
piration thereof. 

PUBLIC MONEYS AND APPROPRIATIONS. 

§ 16. The general assembly shall make no appropriation of 
money out of the treasury in any private law. Bills making appro- 
priations for the pay of members and officers of the general as- 
sembly, and for the salaries of the officers of the government, shall 
contain no provisions on any other subject. 

§ 17. No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in pur- 
suance of an appiopriation made by law, and on the presentation of 
a warrant issued by the auditor thereon: and no money shall be 
diverted from any appropriation made for any purpose, or taken 
from any fund whatever, either by joint or separate resolution. The 
auditor shall, within 60 days after the adjournment of each session 
of the general assembly, prepare and publish a full statement of all 
money expended at such session, specifying the amount of each item, 
and to whom and for what paid. 

§ 18. Each general assembly shall provide for all the appro- 
priations necessary for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the 
government until the expiration of the first fiscal quarter after the 
adjournment of the next regular session, the aggregate amount of 
which shall not be increased without a vote of two-thirds of the 
members elected to each house, nor exceed the amount of revenue 
authorized by law to be raised in such time; and all appropriations, 
general or special, requiring money to be paid out of the State 
Treasury, from funds belonging to the State, shall end with such 
fiscal quarter: Provided, the State may, to meet casual deficits or 
failures in revenues, contract debts, never to exceed in the aggregate 
$250,000; and moneys thus borrowed shall be applied to the purpose 
for which they were obtained, or to pay the debt thus created, and to 
no other purpose; and no other debt, except for the purpose of re- 
pelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, or defending the State in 
war (for payment of which the faith of the State shall be pledged), 
shall be contracted, unless the law authorizing the same shall, at a 
general election, have been submitted to the people, and have re- 
ceived a majority of the votes cast for members of the general assem- 
bly at such election. The general assembly shall provide for the 
publication of said law for three months, at least, before the vote of 
the people shall be taken upon the same ; and provision shall be made, 
at the time, for the payment of the interest annually, as it shall accrue, 
by a tax levied for the purpose, or from other sources of revenue; 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 143 

"which law, providing for the payment of such interest by such tax, 
shall be irrepealable until such debt be paid: And provided further, 
that the law levying the tax shall be submitted to the people with the 
law authorizing the debt to be contracted. 

§ 19. The general assembly shall never grant or authorize extra 
•compensation, fee or allowance to any public officer, agent, servant 
or contractor, after service has been rendered or a contract made, nor 
authorize the payment of any claim, or part thereof, hereafter created 
against the State under any agreement or contract made without ex- 
press authority of law; and all such unauthorized agreements or 
•contracts shall be null and void. Provided, the general assembly may 
make appropriations for expenditures incurred in suppressing insur- 
rection or repelling invasion. 

§ 20. The State shall never pay, assume, or become responsible 
for the debts or liabilities of, or in any manner give, loan or extend 
its credit to, or in aid of any public or other corporation, association 
or individual. 

PAY OF MEMBERS. 

§ 21. The members of the general assembly shall receive for 
their services the sum of $5 per day daring the first session held un- 
der this constitution, and 10 cents for each mile necessarily traveled 
in going to and returning from the seat of government, to be com- 
puted by the auditor of public accounts; and thereafter such com- 
pensation as shall be prescribed by law, and no other allowance or 
emolument, directly or indirectly, for any purpose whatever; except 
the sum of $50 per session to each member, which. shall be in full for 
postage, stationery, newspapers, and all other incidental expenses 
and perquisites; but no change shall be made in the compensation of 
members of the general assembly during the term for which they 
may have been elected. The pay and mileage allowed to each mem- 
ber of the general assembly shall be certified by the speaker of their 
respective houses, and entered on the journals and published at the 
close of each session. 

SPECIAL LEGISLATION PROHIBITED. 

§ 22. The general assembly shall not pass local or special laws in 
any of the following enumerated cases, that is to say : for — 
Granting divorces; 

Changing the names of persons or places; 

Laying out, opening, altering, and working roads or highways; 
Vacating roads, town plats, streets, alleys and public grounds ; 
Locating or changing county seats ; 



144 Crawford's ciyil government. 

Regulating county and township affairs; 

Regulating the practice in courts of justice ; 

Regulating the jurisdiction and duties of justices of the peace, po- 
lice magistrates and constables; 

Providing for changes of venue in civil and criminal cases; 

Incorporating cities, towns or villages, or changing or amending- 
the charter of any town, city or village; 

Providing for the election of members of the board of supervisors 
in townships, incorporated towns or cities; 

Summoning or impaneling grand or petit juries; 

Providing for the management of common schools; 

Regulating the rate of interest on money ; 

The opening and conducting of any election, or designating the 
place of voting; 

The sale or mortgage of real estate belonging to minors or others 
under disability; 

The protection of game or fish; 

Chartering or licensing ferries or toll bridges ; 

Remitting fines, penalties or forfeitures; 

Creating, increasing or decreasing fees, percentage or allowances 
of public officers during the term for which said officers are elected 
or appointed; 

Changing the law of descent; 

Granting to any corporation, association or individual the right to 
lay down railroad tracks, or amending existing charters for such 
purpose; 

Granting to any corporation, association or individual any special 
or exclusive privilege, immunity or franchise whatever; 

In all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, no 
special law shall be enacted. 

§ 23. The general assembly shall have no power to release or ex- 
tinguish, in whole or in part, the indebtedness, liability, or obligation 
of any corporation or individual to this state or to any municipal 
corporation therein. 

IMPEACHMENT. 

§ 24. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of 
impeachment; but a majority of all the members elected must concur 
therein. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate ; and when 
sitting for that purpose the senators shall be upon oath, or affirma- 
tion, to do justice according to law and evidence. When the gover- 
nor of the State is tried the chief justice shall preside. No person 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 145 

shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the sena- 
tors elected But judgment, in such cases, shall not extend further 
than removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of 
honor, profit or trust under the government of this State The 
party, whether convicted or acquitted, shall, nevertheless, be liable to 
prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

§ 25. The general assembly shall provide, by law, that the fuel, 
stationery, and printing paper furnished for the use of the State; the 
copying printing, binding and distributing the laws and journals, 
and all other printing ordered by the general assembly, shall be let 
by contract to the lowest responsible bidder ; but the general as- 
sembly shall fix a maximum price ; and no member thereof, or other 
officer of the State, shall be interested, directly or indirect^, in such 
contract. But all such contracts shall be subject to the approval of 
the governor, and if he disapproves the same there shall be a re- 
letting of the contract, in such a manner as shall be prescribed by 
law. 

§ 26. The State of Illinois shall never be made defendant in any 
court of law or equity. 

§ 27. The general assembly shall have no power to authorize 
lotteries or gift enterprises, for any purpose, and shall pass laws to 
prohibit the sale of lottery or gift enterprise tickets in this State. 

§ 28. No law shall be passed which shall operate to extend the 
term of any public officer after his election or appointment. 

§ 29. It shall be the duly of the general assembly to pass such 
laws as may be necessary for the protection of operative miners, by 
providing for ventilation, when the same may be required, and the 
construction of escapement shafts or such other appliances as may 
secure safety in all coal mines, and to provide for the enforcement of 
said laws by such penalties and punishments as may be deemed 
proper. 

§ 30. The general assembly may provide for establishing and 
opening roads and cartways, connected with a public road, for pri- 
vate and public use. 

§ 31. The general assembly may pass laws permitting the owners 
or occupants of lands to construct drains and ditches, for agricultural 
and sanitary purposes, across the lands of others. 

§ 32. The general assembly shall pass liberal homestead and ex- 
emption laws. 

§ 33. The general assembly shall not appropriate out of the State 



146 Crawford's civil government. 

treasury, or expend on account of the new capitol grounds, and con- 
struction, completion, and furnishing of the new State house, a sum 
exceeding in the aggregate, $3,500,000 inclusive of all appropriations 
heretofore made, without first submitting the proposition for an ad- 
ditional expenditure to the legal voters of the State, at a general elec- 
tion; nor unless a majority of all the votes cast at such election shall 
be for the proposed additional expenditure. 

ARTICLE V.— EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 

§ 1. The executive department shall consist of a Governor, 
Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Ac- 
counts, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Attor- 
ney-General, who shall, each, with the exception of the Treasurer, 
hold his office for the term of four years from the second Monday of 
January next after his election, and until his successor is elected and 
qualified. They shall, except the Lieutenant-Governor, reside at the 
seat of government during their term of office, and keep the pub- 
lic records, books and papers there, and shall perform such duties as 
may be prescribed by law. 

§ 2. The Treasurer shall hold his office for the term of two 
years, and unt'l his successor is elected and qualified ; and shall be 
ineligible to said office for two years next after the end of the term 
for which he was elected. He may be required by the Governor to 
give reasonable additional security, and in default of so doing his 
office shall be deemed vacant. 

ELECTION. 

§ 3. An election for Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary 
of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, and Attorney- General, shall be 
held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday of November, in the 
year of our Lord 1872, and every four years thereafter ; for Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, on the Tuesday next after the first 
Monday of November, in the year 1870, and every four years there- 
after ; and for Treasurer, on the day last above mentioned, and eveiy 
two years thereafter, at such places and in such manner as may be 
prescribed by law. 

§ 4. The returns of every election for the above-named officers 
shall be sealed up and transmitted, by the returning officers, to the 
Secretary of State, directed to V The Speaker of the House of Repre- 
sentatives," who shall, immediately after the organization of the 
house, and before proceeding to other business, open and publish the 
same in the presence of a majority of each house of the general as- 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 147 

sembly, who shall, for that purpose, assemble in the hall of the house 
of representatives. The person having the highest number of votes 
for either of said offices shall be declared duly elected ; but if two or 
more have an equal and the highest number of votes, the general as- 
sembly shall, by joint ballot, choose one of such persons for said 
office. Contested elections for all of said offices shall be determined 
by both houses of the general assembly, by joint ballot, in such man- 
ner as may be prescribed by law. 

ELIGIBILITY. 

§ 5. No person shall be eligible to the office of governor or lieu- 
tenaut-governor who sliall not have attained the age of 30 years, and 
been for five years next preceding his election a citizen of the United 
States and of this State. Neither the governor, lieutenant-governor, 
auditor of public accounts, secretary of State, superintendent of pub. 
lie instruction, nor attorney-general shall be eligible to any other 
office during the period for which he sliall have been elected. 

GOVERNOR. 

§ 6. The supreme executive power shall be vested in the gov- 
ernor, who shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. 

§ 7. The governor shall, at the commencement of each session, 
and at the close of his term of office, give to the general assembly in- 
formation, by message, of the condition of the State, and shall recom- 
mend such measures as he shall deem expedient. He shall account 
to the general assembly, and accompany his message with a statement 
of all moneys received and paid out by him from any funds subject 
to his order, with vouchers, and, at the commencement of each regu- 
lar session present estimates of the amount of money required to be 
raised by taxation for all purposes. 

§ 8. The governor may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the 
general assembly, by proclamation, stating therein the purpose for 
which they are convened ; and the general assembly shall euter upon 
no business except that for which they were called together. 

§ 9. In case of a disagreement between the two houses with re- 
spect to the time of adjournment, the governor may, on the same 
being certified to him, by the house first moving the adjournment, 
adjourn the general assembly to such time as he thinks proper, not 
beyond the first day of the next regular session. 

§ 10. The governor shall nominate, and by and with the advice 
ancUconsent of the senate (a majority of all the senators elected con- 
curring by yeas and nays), appoint all officers whose offices are estab- 



14:8 CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT 

lished by this constitution, or which may be created by law, and whose 
appointment or election is not otherwise provided for ; and no such 
officer shall be appointed or elected by the general assembly. 

§ 11. In case of a vacancy, during the recess of the senate, in any 
office which is not elective, the governor shall make a temporary 
appointment until the next meeting of the senate, when he shall nom- 
inate some person to fill such office ; and any person so nominated, 
who is confirmed by the senate (a majority of all the senators elected 
concurring by yeas and nays), shall hold his office during the remain- 
der of the term, and until his successor shall be appointed and quali- 
fied. No person, after being rejected by the senate, shall be again 
nominated for the same office at the same session, unless at the request 
of the senate, or be appointed to the same office during the recess of 
the general assembly. 

§ 12. The governor shall have power to remove any officer whom 
he may appoint, in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or mal- 
feasance in office , and he may declare his office vacant, and fill the 
same as is herein provided in other cases of vacancy. 

§ 13. The governor shall have power to grant reprieves, commu- 
tations and pardons, after conviction, for all offenses subject to such 
regulations as may be provided by law relative to the manner of ap- 
plying therefor. 

§ 14. The governor shall be commander-in-chief of the military 
and naval forces of the State (except when they shall be called into 
the service of the United States) ; and may call out the same to 
execute the laws, suppress insurrection, and repel invasion. 

§ 15. The governor, and all civil officers of this State, shall be 
liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in office. 

VETO. % 
§ 16. Every bill passed by the general assembly shall, before it 
becomes a law, be presented to the governor. If he approve, he shall 
sign it, and thereupon it shall become a law ; but if he do not approve, 
he shall return it, with his objections, to the house in which it shall 
have originated, which house shall enter the objections at large upon 
its journal, and proceed to reconsider the bill. If, then, two -thirds 
of the members elected agree to pass the same, it shall be sent to- 
gether with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall like- 
wise be reconsidered ; and if approved by two -thirds of the members 
elected to that house, it shall become a law, notwithstanding the 
objections of the governor. But in all such cases the vote of each 
house shall be determined by j T eas and nays, to be entered on the 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 149 

journal. Any bill which shall not be returned by the governor 
within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented 
to him, shall become a law in like manner as if he had signed it, un. 
less the general assembly shall, by their adjournment, prevent its 
return ; in which case it shall be filed, with his objections, in the 
office of the secretary of State, within ten days after such adjourn- 
ment, or become a law. 

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. 

§ 17. In case of death, conviction on impeachment, failure to 
qualify, resignation, absence from the State, or other disability of the 
governor, the powers, duties and emoluments of the office for the 
residue of the term, or until the disability shall bs removed, shall de- 
volve upon the lieutenant-governor. 

§ 18. The lieutenant-governor shall be president of the senate, and 
shall vote only when the senate is equally divided. The senate shall 
choose a president, pro tempore, to preside in case of the absence or 
impeachment of the lieutenant-governor, or when he shall hold the 
office of governor. 

§ 19. If there be no lieutenant-governor, or if the lieutenant-gov- 
ernor shall, for any of the causes specified in § 17 of this article, be- 
come incapable of performing the duties of the office, the president of 
the senate shall act as governor until the vacancy is filled or the disa- 
bility removed ; and if the president of the senate, for an}' of the 
above named causes, shall become incapable of performing the duties 
of governor, the same shall devolve upon the speaker of the house 
of representatives. 

OTHER STATE OFFICERS. 

§ 20. If the office of auditor of public accounts, treasurer, secre- 
tary of State, attorney-general, or superintendent of public instruction 
shall be vacated by death, resignation or otherwise, it shall be the 
duty of the governor to fill the same by appointment, and the 
appointee shall hold his office until his successor shall be elected and 
qualified in such manner as may be provided bylaw. An account 
shall be kept by the officers of the executive department, and of all 
the public institutions of the btate. of all moneys received or dis- 
bursed by them, severally, from all sources, and for every service 
performed, and a semi-annual report thereof be made to the governor, 
under oath ; and any officer who makes a false report shall be guilty 
of perjury, and punished accordingly. 

§ 21. The officers of the executive department, and of all the 
public institutions of the State, shall, at least ten days preceding each 



150 Crawford's civil government. 

regular session of the general assembly, severally report to the gov- 
ernor, who shall transmit such reports to the general assembly, 
together with the reports of the judges of the supreme court of the 
defects in the constitution and laws; and the governor may at any 
time require information, in writing, under oath, from the officers of 
the executive department, and all officers and managers of State in- 
stitutions, upon any subject relating to the condition, management 
and expenses of their respective offices. 

THE SEAL OF STATE. 
§ 22. There shall be a seal of the State, which shall be called 
the " Great Seal of the State of Illinois," which shall be kept by the 
secretary of State, and used by him, officially, as directed by law. 

FEES AND SALARIES. 

§ 23. The officers named in this article shall receive for their 
services a salary, to be established by law, which shall not be in- 
creased or diminished during their official terms, and they shall not, 
after the expiration of the terms of those in office at the adoption of 
this constitution, receive to their own use any fees, costs, perquisites 
of office, or other compensation. And all fees that may hereafter be 
payable by law for any service performed by any officer provided for 
in this article of the constitution, shall be paid in advance into the 
State treasury. 

DEFINITION AND OATH OF OFFICE. 

§ 24. An office is a public position created by the constitution or 
law, continuing during the pleasure of the appointing power, or for 
a fixed time, with a successor elected or appointed. An employment 
is an agency, for a temporary purpose, which ceases when that pur- 
pose is accomplished. 

§ 25. All civil officers, except members of the general assembly, 
and such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall, before 
they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe 
the following oath or affirmation: 

44 1 do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will 
support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of 
the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of 
the office of according to the best of my ability." 

And no other oath, declaration or test shall be required as a 
qualification. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 151 

ARTICLE VI.— JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 

§ 1. The Judicial powers, except as in this article is otherwise 
provided, shall be vested in one supreme court, circuit courts, county- 
courts, justices of the peace, police magistrates, and in such courts as 
may be created by law in and for cities and incorporated towns. 

SUPREME COURT. 

§ 2. The supreme court shall consist of seven judges, and shall 
have original jurisdiction in cases relating to the revenue, in man- 
damus and habeas corpus, and appellate jurisdiction in all other cases. 
One of said judges shall be chief justice; four shall constitute a quo- 
rum, and the concurrence of four shall be necessary to every decision. 

§ 3. No person shall be eligible to the office of judge of the 
supreme court unless he shall be at least 30 years of age, and a citizen 
of the United States, nor unless he shall have resided in this State 
five years next preceding his election, and be a resident of the district 
in which he shall be elected. 

§ 4. Terms of the supreme court shall continue to be held in the 
present grand divisions at the several places now provided for holding 
the same; and until otherwise provided by law, one or more terms of 
said court shall be held, for the northern division, in the city of 
Chicago, each year, at such times as said court may appoint, when- 
ever said city or the county of Cook shall provide appropriate rooms 
therefor, and the use of a suitable library, without expense to the 
State. The judicial divisions may be altered, increased or diminished 
in number, and the times and places of holdiug said court m iy be 
changed by law. 

§ 5. The present grand divisions shall be preserved, and be 
denominated Southern, Central and Northern, until otherwise pro- 
vided by law. The State shall be divided into seven districts for the 
election of judges, and, until otherwise provided by law, they shall 
be as follows: 

First District. — The counties of St. Clair, Clinlon, Washington, 
Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, White, Hamilton, Franklin, 
Perry, Randolph, Monroe. Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, 
Hardin, Pope, Union. Johnson, Alexander, Pulaski and Massac. 

Second District. — The counties of Madison, Bond, Marion, Clay, 
Richland, Lawrence, Crawford, Jasper, Effingham, Fayette. Mont- 
gomery, Macoupin, Shelby, Cumberland, Clark, Greene, Jersey, 
Calhoun and Christian. 

Third District. — The counties of Sangamon, Macon, Logan, De 



152 Crawford's civil government. 

Witt, Piatt, Douglas, Champaign, Vermillion, McLean, Livingston, 
Ford, Iroquois, Coles, Edgar, Moultrie and Tazewell. 

Fourth District. — The counties of Fulton, McDonough, Hancock, 
Schuyler, Brown, Adams, Pike, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Cass and 
Scott. 

Fifth District. — The counties of Knox, Warren, Henderson, 
Mercer, Henry, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, La Salle, 
Grundy and Woodford. 

Sixth District. — The counties of Whiteside, Carroll, Jo Daviess, 
Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, De Kalb, 
Lee, Ogle and Hock Island. 

Seventh District. — The counties of Lake, Cook, Will, Kankakee 
and Du Page. 

The boundaries of the districts may be changed at the session of 
the general assembly next preceding the election for judges therein, 
and at no other time; but whenever such alteration shall be made, 
the same shall be upon the rule of equality of population, as nearly 
as county boundaries will allow, and the districts shall be composed 
of contiguous counties, in as nearly compact form as circumstances 
will permit. The alteration of the districts shall not affect the tenure 
of office of any judge. 

§ 6. At the time of voting on the adoption of this constitution, 
one judge of the supreme court shall be elected by the electors 
thereof, in each of said districts numbered two, three, six and seven, 
who shall hold his office for the term of nine years from the first 
Monday of June, in the year of our Lord 1870. The term of office 
of judges of the supreme court, elected after the adoption of this 
constitution, shall be nine years; and on the first Monday of June of 
the year in which the term of any of the judges in office at the adop- 
tion of this constitution, or of .the judges then elected, shall expire, 
and every nine years thereafter, there shall be an election for the 
successor or successors of such judges, in the respective districts 
wherein the term of such judges shall expire. The chief justice shall 
continue to act as such until the expiration of the term for which he 
was elected, after which the judges shall choose one of their number 
chief justice. 

§ 7. From and after the adoption of this constitution, the judges 
of the supreme court shall each receive a salary of $4^000 per 
annum, payable quarterly, until otherwise provided by law. And 
after said salaries shall be fixed by law, the salaries of the judges in 
office shall not be increased or diminished during the terms for 
which said judges have been elected. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 153 

§8. Appeals and writs of error muy hi taken to the supreme 
court held in the grand division in which the case is decided, or, by 
consent of the parties, to any other grand division. 

§ 9. The supreme court shall appoint one reporter of its decis- 
ions, who shall hold his office for six years, subject to removal by 
the court. 

§ 10. At the time of the election for representatives in the general 
assembly, happening next preceding the expiration of the terms of 
office of the present clerks of said court, one clerk of said court for 
each division shall be elected, whose term of office shall be for six 
years from said election, but who shall not enter upon the duties of 
his office until the expiration of the term of his predecessor, and every 
six years thereafter one clerk of said court for each division shall be 
elected. 

APPELLATE COURTS. 

§ 11. After the year of our Lord 1874, in erior appellate courts, 
of uniform organization and jurisdiction, may be created in d'sricts 
formed for that purpose, to which such appeals and writs of error as 
the general assembl/ may provide may be prosecuted from circuit and 
other courts, and from which appeals and writs of error shall lie to 
the supreme court, in all criminal cases, and cases in which a fran- 
chise, or freehold, or the validity of a statute is involved, and in such 
other cases as may be provided by law. Such appellate courts shall 
be held by such number of judges of the circuit courts, and at such 
times and places, and in such manner, as may be provided by law ; 
but no judge shall sit in review upon cases decided by him ; nor 
shall said judges receive any additional compensation for such 
services. 

CIRCUIT COURTS. 

§ 12. The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction of all 
causes in law and equity, and such appellate jurisdiction as is or may 
be provided by law, and shall hold two or more terms each year in 
every county. The terms of office of judges of circuit courts shall 
be six years. 

§ 13. The State, exclusive of the county of Cook and other 
counties having a population of 100,000, shall be divided into judi- 
cial circuits prior to the expiration of the terms of office of the 
present judges of the circuit courts. Such circuits shall be formed 
of contiguous counties, in as nearly compact form and as nearly equal 
as circumstances will permit, having due regard to business, territory 
and population, and shall not exceed in number one circuit for every 
100,000 of population in the State. One judge shall be elected for 



154 Crawford's civil government. 

each of said circuits by the electors thereof. New circuits may be 
formed and the boundaries of circuits changed by the general assem- 
bly, at its session next preceding the election for circuits judges, but 
at no other time ; Provided, that the circuits may be equalized or 
changed at the first session of the general assembly after the adoption 
of this constitution. The creation, alteration or change of any cir- 
cuit shall not affect the tenure of office of any judge. Whenever the 
business of the circuit court of any one, or of two or more contiguous 
counties, containing a population exceeding 59,000, shall occupy 
nine months of the year, the general assembly may make of such 
county or counties a separate circuit. Whenever additional circuits 
are created, the foregoing limitations sball be observed. 

§ 14. The general assembly shall provide for the times of hold- 
ing court in each county, which shall not be changed, except by tho 
general assembly next preceding the general election for judges of 
said courts ; but additional terms may be provided for in any county. 
The election for judges of the circuit courts shall be held on the first 
Monday in June, in the year of our Lord 1873, and every six years 
thereafter. 

§ 15. The general assembly may divide the State into judicial 
circuits of greater population and territory, in lieu of the circuits 
provided for in section 13 of this article, and provide for the elec- 
tion therein, severally, by the electors thereof, by general ticket, of 
not exceeding four judges, who shall hold the circuit courts in the 
circuits for which they shall be elected, in such manner as may be 
provided by law. 

§ 16. From and after the adoption of this constitution, judges of 
the circuit courts shall receive a salary of $3,000 per annum, payable 
quarterly, until otherwise provided by law. And after their salaries 
shall be fixed by law, they shall not be increased or diminished 
during the terms for which said judges shall be, respectively elected; 
and from and after the adoption of this constitution, no judge of the 
supreme or circuit court shall receive any other compensation, per- 
quisite or benefit, in any form whatsoever, nor perform any other 
than judicial duties to which may belong any emoluments. 

§ 17. No person shall be eligible to the office of judge of the cir- 
cuit or any inferior court, or to membership in the " board of county 
commissioners," unless he shall be at least 25 years of age, and a citi- 
zen of the United States, nor unless he shall have resided in this State 
five years next preceding his election, and be a resident of the circuit, 
county, city, cities, or incorporated town in which he shall be 
elected. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 155 



COUNTY COURTS. 

§ 18. There shall be elected in and for each count}', one county 
judge and one clerk of the county court, whose terms of office shall be 
four years. But the general assembly may create districts of two or 
more contiguous counties, in each of which shall be elected one judge, 
who shall take the place of, and exercise the powers and juris- 
diction of county judges in such districts. County courts shall be 
courts of record, and shall have original jurisdiction in all matters of 
probate ; settlement of estates of deceased persons ; appointment of 
guardians an i conservators, and settlements of their accounts ; in all 
matters relating to apprentices, and in proceedings for the collection 
of taxes and assessments, and such other jurisdiction as may be pro- 
vided for by general law. 

§ 19. Appeals and writs of error shall be allowed from final 
determinations of county courls, as may be provided by law. 

PROBATE COURTS. 

§ 20. The general assembly may provide for the establishment of 
a probate court in each county having a population of over 50,000, 
and for the election of a judge thereof, whose term of office shall be 
the same as that of the county judge, and who shall be elected at the 
same time and in the same manner. Said courts, when established, 
shall have original jurisdiction of all probate matters, the settlement 
of estates of deceased persons, the appointment of guardians, con- 
servators, and settlement of their accounts ; in all matters relating to 
apprentices, and in cases of the sales of real estate of deceased per- 
sons for the payment of debts. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES. 

§ 21. Justices of the peace, police magistrates, and constables 
shall be elected in and for such districts as are, or may be, provided 
by law, and the jurisdiction of such justices of the peace and police 
magistrates shall be uniform. 

STATE'S ATTORNEYS. 

§ 22. At the election for members of the general assembly in the 
year of our Lord 1872, and every four years thereafter, there shall be 
elected a State's attorney in and for each county, in lieu of the State's 
attorneys now provided by law, whose term of office shall be four 
years. 



156 Crawford's ciyil goyernment. 



COURTS OF COOK COUNTY. 

§ 23. The county of Cook shall be one judicial circuit. The 
circuit court of Cook couuty shall consist of five judges, until their 
number shall be increased, as herein provided. The present judge 
of the recorder's court of the city of Chicago, and the present judge 
of the circuit court of Cook county, shall be two of said judges, and 
shall remain in office for the terms for which they were respectively 
elected, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. The 
superior court of Chicago shall be continued, and called the superior 
cour. of Cook county. The general assembly may increase the num- 
ber of said judges, by adding one to either of said courts for every 
additional 50,000 inhabitants in said county over and above a popula- 
tion of 400,000. The terms of office of the judges of said courts 
hereafter elected shall be six years. 

§ 24. The judge having the shortest unexpired term shall be 
chief justice of the court of which he is judge. In case there are 
two or more whose terms expire at the same time, it may be deter- 
mined by lot which shall be chief justice. Any judge of either 
of said courts shall have all the powers of a circuit judge, and 
may hold the court of which he is a member. Each of them may 
hold a different branch thereof at the same time. 

§ 25. The judges of the superior and circuit courts, and the 
State's attorney, in said county, shall receive the same salaries, pay- 
able out of the State treasury, as is or may be paid from said treasury 
to the circuit judges and the State's attorneys of the State, and such 
further compensation, to be paid by the said county of Cook, as is or 
may be provided by law ; such compensation shall not be changed 
during their continuance in office. 

§ 26. The recorder's court of the city of Chicago shall be con- 
tinued, and shall be called the " criminal court of Cook county." It 
shall have the jurisdiction of a circuit court, in all cases of criminal 
and quasi criminal nature, arising in the county of Cook, or that 
may be brought before said court pursuant to law; and all recogni- 
zances and appeals taken in said county, in criminal and quasi 
criminal cases, shall be returnable and taken to said court. It shall 
have no jurisdiction in civil cases, except those on behalf of the 
people, and incident to such criminal or quasi criminal matters, and 
to dispose of unfinished business. The terms of said criminal court 
of Cook county shall be held by one or more of the judges of the 
circuit or superior court of Cook county, as nearly as may be in 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 157 

alternation, as may be determined by said judges, or provided by 
law. Said judges shall be ex-officio judges of said court. 

§27. The present clerk of the recorder's couit of the city of 
Chicago shall be the clerk of the criminal court of Cook county 
during the term for which he was elected. The present clerks of the 
superior courts of Chicago, and the present clerk of the circuit court 
of Cook county, shall continue in office during the terms for which 
they were respectively elected; and thereafter there shall be but one 
clerk of the superior court, to be elected by the qualified electors of 
said county, who shall hold his office for the term of four years, and 
until his successor is elected and qualified. 

§ 28. All justices of the peace in the city of Chicago shall be 
appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of 
the senate, (but only upon the recommendation of a majority of the 
judges of the circuit, superior and county courts,) and for such dis- 
tricts as are now or shall hereafter be provided by law. They shall 
hold their offices for four years, and until their successors liave been 
commissioned and qualified, but they may be removed bj r summary 
proceedings in. the circuit or superior courts, for extortion or other 
malfeasance. Existing justices of the peace and police magistrates 
may hold their offices until the expiration of their respective terms. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

§ 29. All judicial officers shall be commissioned by the governor. 
All laws relating to courts shall be general, and of uniform operation; 
and the organization, jurisdiction, powers, proceedings and practice 
of all courts, of the same class or grade, as far as regulated by law r 
and the force and effect of the process, judgments and decrees of such 
courts, severally, shall be uniform. 

§ BO. The general assembly may, for cause entered on the 
journals, upon due notice and opportunity of defense, remove from 
office any judge, upon concurrence of three fourths of all the mem- 
bers elected of each house. All other officers in this article mentioned 
shall be removed from office, on prosecution and final conviction, for 
misdemeanor in office. 

§ 31. All judges of courts of record, inferior to the supreme 
court, shall, on or before the first day of June of each year, report in 
writing to the judges of the supreme court, such defects and omis- 
sions in the laws as their experience may suggest ; and the judges of 
the supreme court shall, on or before the first day of January of each 
year, report in writing to the governor such defects and omissions 
in the constitution and laws as they may find to exist, together with 



158 Crawford's civil government. 

appropriate forms of bills to cure such defects and omissions in the 
laws. And the judges of the several circuit courts shall report to the 
next general assembly the number of days they have held court in 
the several counties composing their respective circuits the preceding 
two years. 

§ 32. All officers provided for in this article shall hold their 
offices until their successors shall be qualified, and they shall, respect- 
ively, reside in the division, circuit, county or district for which 
they may be elected or appointed. The terms cf office of all such 
officers, where not otherwise prescribed in this article, shall be four 
years. All officers, where not otherwise provided for in (his article, 
shall perform such duties and receive such compensation as is or may 
be provided by law. Vacancies in such elective offices shall be filled 
by election ; but where the unexpired term does not exceed one year, 
the vacancy shall be filled by appointment, as follows: Of judges, by 
the governor: of clerks of courts, by the court to which the office 
appertains, or by the judge or judges thereof; and of all such other 
offices, by the board of supervisors or board of county commissioners 
in the county where the vacancy occurs. 

§ 83. All process shall run: In the name of the People of the State 
of Illinois; and all prosecutions shall be carried on: In the name and 
by the authority of the People of the State of Illinois; and conclude : 
Against the peace and dignity of the same. " Population," wherever 
used in this article, shall be determined by the next preceding census 
oi this State, or of the United States. 

ARTICLE VII.— SUFFRAGE. 

§ 1. Every person having resided in this State one year, in the 
county ninety days, and in the election district thirty days next pre- 
ceding any election therein, who was an elector in this State on the 
first day of April, in the year of our Lord 184S, or obtained a certifi- 
cate of naturalization before any court of record in this State prior to 
the first day of January, in the year of our Lord 1870, or who shall 
be male citizen of the United States, above the age of twenty-one 
years, shall be entitled to vote at such election. 

§ 2. All votes shall be by ballot. 

§ 3. Electors shall, in all cases except treason, felony, or breach 
of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at 
elections, and in going to and returning from the same. And no 
elector shall be obliged to do military duty on the days of election, 
except in time of war or public danger. 

§ 4. No elector shall be deemed to have lost his residence in this 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 159 

State by reason of his absence on business of the United States, or in 
the military or naval service of the United States. 

§ 5. No soldier, seaman or marine in the army or navy of the 
United States shall be deemed a resident of this State in consequence 
of being stationed therein. 

§ 6. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this 
State, civil or military, who is not a citizen of the United States, and 
who shall not have resided in this State one year next preceding the 
election or appointment. 

§ 7. The general assembly shall pass laws excluding from the 
right of suffrage persons convicted of infamous crimes. 

ARTICLE VIII.— EDUCATION. 

§ 1. The general assembly shall provide a thorough and efficient 
system of free schools, whereby all children of this State may receive 
a good common-school education. 

§ 2. All lands, moneys, or other property, donated, granted, or 
received, for school, college, seminary or university purposes, and 
the proceeds thereof, shall be faithfully applied to the objects for 
which such grants were made. 

§ 8. Neither the general assembly, nor any county, city, town, 
township, school district, or other public corporation, shall ever make 
any appropriation or pay from any public fund, whatever, anything 
in aid of any church or sectarian purpose, or to help support or sus- 
tain any school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other 
literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church or sectarian 
denomination whatever ; nor shall any grant or donation of land, 
money, or other personal property ever be made by the State or any 
such public corporation, to any church, or for any sectarian pur- 
poses. 

§ 4. No teacher, State t county, township, or district school 
officer shall be interested in the sale, proceeds or profits of any book, 
apparatus or furniture, used or to be used, in any school in this 
State, with which such officer or teacher may be connected, under 
such penalties as may be provided by the general assembly. 

§ 5. There may be a county superintendent of schools in each 
county, whose qualifications, powers, duties, compensation, and time 
and manner of election, and term of office, shall be prescribed by law. 

ARTICLE IX.— REVENUE. 

§ 1. The general assembly shall provide such revenue as may 
be needful by levying a tax, by valuation, so that every person and 



160 Crawford's civil government. 

corporation shall pay a tax in proportion to the value of his, her or 
its property — such value to be ascertained by some person or per- 
sons, to be elected or appointed in such manner as the general assem- 
bly shall direct, and not otherwise : but the general assembly shall 
have power to tax peddlers, auctioneers, brokers, hawkers, merchants, 
commission merchants, showmen, jugglers, inn-keepers, grocery 
keepers, liquor dealers, toll bridges, ferries, insurance, telegraph and 
express interests or business, venders of patents, and persons or cor- 
porations owning or using franchises and privileges, in such manner 
as it shall from time to time direct by general law, uniform as to the 
class upon which it operates. 

§ 2. The specification of the objects and subjects of taxation 
shall not deprive the general assembly of the power to require other 
subjects or objects to be taxed in such manner as may be consistent 
with the principles of taxation fixed in this constitution. 

§ 3. The property of the State, counties, and other municipal 
corporations, both real and personal, and such other property as may 
be used exclusively for agricultural and horticultural societies, for 
school, religious, cemetery and charitable purposes, may be exempted 
from taxation ; but such exemption shall be only by general law. In 
the assessment of real estate incumbered by public easement, any 
depreciation occasioned by such easement may be deducted in the 
valuation of such property. 

§ 4. The general assembly shall provide, in all cases where it may 
be necessary to sell real estate for the non-payment of taxes or special 
assessments for State, county, municipal or other purposes, that a 
return of such unpaid taxes or assessments shall be made to some 
general officer of the county having authority to receive State and 
county taxes ; and there shall be no sale of said property for any of 
said taxes or assessments but by said officer, upon the order or judg- 
ment of some court of record. 

§ 5. The right of redemption from all sales of real estate for the 
non payment of taxes or special assessments of any character what- 
ever, shall exist in favor of owners and persons interested in such 
real estate for a period of not less than two years from such sales 
thereof. And the general assembly shall provide by law for reasona- 
ble notice to be given to the owners or parties interested, by publica- 
tion or otherwise,, of the fact of the sale of the property for such taxes 
or assessments, and when the time of redemption shall expire : Pro- 
vided, that occupants shall in all cases be served with personal notice 
before the time of redemption expires. 

§ 6. The general assembly shall have no power to release or dis- 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 161 

charge any county, city, or township, town or district whatever, or 
the inhabitants thereof, or the property therein, from their or its pro- 
portionate share of taxes to be levied for State purposes, nor shall 
commutation for such taxes be authorized in any form whatsoever. 

§ 7. All taxes levied for State purposes shall be paid into the 
State treasury. 

§ 8. County authorities shall never assess taxes, the aggregate of 
which shall exceed 75 cents per $100 valuation, except for the pay- 
ment of indebtedness existing at the adoption of this constitution, 
unless authorized by a vote of the people of the county. 

§ 9. The general assembly may vest the corporate authorities of 
cities, towns and villages with power to make local improvements by 
special assessment or by special taxation of contiguous property, or 
otherwise. For all other corporate purposes, all municipal corpora- 
tions may be vested with authority to assess and collect taxes, but 
such taxes shall be uniform in respect to persons and property within 
the jurisdiction of the body imposing the same. 

§ 10. The general assembly shall not impose taxes upoa munici- 
pal corporations, or the inhabitants or property thereof, for corporate 
purposes, but shall require that all the taxable property within the 
limits of municipal corporations shall be taxed for the payment of 
debts contracted under authority of law, such taxes to be uniform in 
respect to persons and property within the jurisdiction of the body 
imposing the same. Private property shall not be liable to be taken 
or sold for the payment of the corporate debts of a municipal cor- 
poration. 

§ 11. No person who is in default, as collector or custodian of 
money or property belonging to a municipal corporation shall be eli- 
gible to any office in or under such corporation. The fees, salary or 
compensation of no municipal officer who is elected or appointed 
for a definite term of office shall be increased or diminished during 
such term. 

§ 12. No county, city, township, school district, or other mu- 
nicipal corporation shall be allowed to become indebted in any man- 
ner or for any purpose to an amount, including existing indebtedness, 
in the aggregate exceeding five per centum on the value of the taxa- 
ble property therein, to be ascertained by the last assessment for 
State and county taxes previous to the incurring of such indebtedness. 
Any county, city, school district, or other municipal corporation, 
incurring any indebtedness as aforesaid, shall, before, or at the time 
of doing so, provide for the collection of a direct annual tax sufficient 
to pay the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and 



162 Crawford's civil government. 

discharge the principal thereof within twenty years from the time of 
contracting the same. This section shall not be construed to prevent 
any county, city, township, school district, or other municipal cor- 
poration from issuing their bonds in compliance with any vote of the 
people which may have been had prior to the adoption of this consti- 
tution in pursuance of any law providing therefor. 

ARTICLE X.— COUNTIES. 

§ 1. No new county shall be formed or established by the gen- 
eral assembly which will reduce the county or counties, or either of 
them, from which it shall be taken, to less contents than 400 square 
miles ; nor shall any county be formed of less contents : nor shall 
any line thereof pass within less than ten miles of any county seat of 
the county or counties proposed to be divided. 

§ 2. No county shall be divided, or have any part stricken there- 
from, without submitting the question to a vote of the people of the 
county, nor unless a majority of all the legal voters of the county 
voting on the question shall vote for the same. 

§ 3. There shall be no territory stricken from any county, unless 
a majority of the voters living in such territory shall petition for 
such division ; and no territory shall be added to any county without 
the consent of the majority of the voters of the county to which it is 
proposed to be added. But the portion so stricken off and added to 
another county, or formed in whole or in part into a new county, 
shall be holden for, and obliged to pay, its proportion of the indebt- 
edness of the county from which it has been taken. 

COUNTY SEATS. 

§ 4. No county seat shall be removed until the point to which it 
is proposed to be removed shall be fixed in pursuance of law, and 
three-fifths of the voters of the county, to be ascertained in such 
manner as shall be provided by general law, shall have voted in favor 
of its removal to such point; and no person shall vote on such ques- 
lion who has not resided in the county six months, and in the election 
precinct ninety days next preceding such election. The question of 
the removal of a county seat shall not be of tener submitted than once 
in ten years to a vote of the people. But when an attempt is made 
to remove a county seat to a point nearer to the centre of a county, 
then a majority vote only shall be necessary. 

COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 

§ 5. The general assembly shall provide, by general law, for 
township organization, under which any county may organize -when- 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 163 

ever a majority of the legal voters of such county, voting at any 
general election, shall so determine, and whenever any county shall 
adopt township organization, so much of this constitution as provides 
for the management of the fiscal concerns of the said county by the 
board of county commissioners, may be dispensed with, and the 
affairs of said county may be transacted in snch a manner as the 
general.assembly may provide. And in any county that shall have 
adopted a township organization the question of continuing the same 
may be submitted to a vote of the electors of such county at a general 
election, in the manner that now is or may be provided bylaw; and 
if a majority of all the votes cast upon that question shall be against 
township organization, then such organization shall cease in said 
county; and all laws in force in relation to counties not having town- 
ship organization, shall immediately take effect and be in force in 
such county. No two townships shall have the same name, and the 
day of holding the annual township meeting shall be uniform through- 
out the State. 

§ 6. At the first election of county judges under this constitution 
there shall be elected in each of the counties of this State, not under 
township organization, three officers, who shall be styled "The 
Board of County Commissioners/' who shall hold sessions for the 
transaction of county business as shall be provided by law. One of 
said commissioners shall hold his office for one year, one for two 
years, and one for three years, to be determined by lot ; and every 
year thereafter one such officer shall be elected in each of said coun- 
ties for the term of three years. 

§ 7. The county affairs of Cook county shall be managed by a 
board of commissioners of fifteen persons, ten of whom shall be 
elected from the city of Chicago and five from towns outside of said 
city, in such manner as may be provided by law. 

COUNTY OFFICERS AND THEIR COMPENSATION. 

* § 8. In each county there shall be elected the following county 
officers, at the general election to be held on the Tuesday after the 
first Monday in November A.D. 1882 : A county judge, county clerk, 
sheriff and treasurer ; and at the election to be held on the Tuesday 
after the first Monday in November A. D 1834. a coroner and clerk of 
the circuit court (who may be ex officio r< corder of deeds, except in 
counties having 60,000 or more inhabitants, in which counties a re- 
corder of deeds shall be elected at the general election in 1884). Each 

* Notr.— Sec. 8 is an amendment adopted Nov. 2, 1880. 



164 Crawford's civil government. 

of said officers shall enter upon the duties of his office respectively on 
the tirst Monday of December after his election, and they shall hold 
their respective offices for the term of four years, and until their suc- 
cessors are elected and qualified ; Provided, That no person having- 
once been elected to the office of sheriff or treasurer, shall be eligible 
to re-election to said office for four years after the expiration of the 
term for which he shall have been elected. 

§ 9. The clerks of all the courts of record, the treasurer, sheriff, 
coroner and recorder of deeds of Cook county, shall receive as their 
only compensation for their services salaries to be fixed bylaw, which 
shall in no case be as much as the lawful compensation of a judge of 
the circuit court of said county, and shall be paid, respect ivety, only 
out of the fees of the office actually collected. All fees, perquisites, 
and emcluments (above the amount of said salaries) shall be paid into 
the county treasury. The number of deputies and assistants of such 
officers shall be determined by rule of the circuit couit, to be entered 
of record, and their compensation shall be determined by the county 
board. 

§ 10. The county board, except as provided in § 9 of this article, 
shall fix the compensation of all county officers, with the amount of 
their necessary clerk hire, stationery, fuel, and other expenses, and 
in all cases where faes are provided for, said compensation shall be 
paid only out of, and shall in no instance exceed, the fees actually 
collected ; they shall not allow either of them more per annum than 
$1> 500 in counties not exceeding 20,000 inhabitants; $2,0^0 in coun- 
ties containing 20,000 and not exceeding 30,000 inhabitants; $2,500 
in counties containing 30,000 and not exceeding 50,000 inhabitants ; 
$3,000 in counties containing 50,000 and not exceeding 70,-000 inhab- 
itants; $3,500 in counties containing 70,000 and not exceeding 100, 000 
inhabitants ; and $4,000 in counties containing over 100,000 and not 
exceeding 250,000 inhabitants ; and not more than $1,000 additional 
compensation for each additional 100,000 inhabitants: Provided, that 
the compensation of no officer shall be increased or diminished during 
his term of office. All fees or allowances by them received, in excess 
of their said compensation, shall be paid into the county treasury. 

§ 11. The fees of township officers, and of each class of county 
officers, shall be uniform in the class of counties to which they 
respectively belong. The compensation herein provided fur shall 
apply only to officers hereafter elected, but all fees established by 
special laws shall cease at the adoption of this constitution,. and such 
officers shall receive only such fees as are provided by general law. 
§ 12. All laws fixing the fees of State, county and township 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 165 

officers, shall terminate with the terms, respectively* of those who 
may be in office at the meeting of the first general assembly after the 
adoption of this constitution ; and the general assembly shall, by 
general law, uniform in its operation, provide for and regulate the 
fees of said officers and their successors, so as to reduce the same to a 
reasonable compensation for services actually rendered. But the 
general assembly may, by general law, classify the counties by popu- 
lation into not more than three classes, and regulate the fees according 
to class. This article shall not be construed as depriving the general 
assembly of the power to reduce the fees of existing officers. 

§ 13. Eveiy person who is elected or appointed to any office in 
this State, who shall be paid in whole or in part by fees, shall be re- 
quired by law to make a semi-annual repoit, under oath, to some 
officer to be designated by law, of all his fees and emoluments. 

ARTICLE XI.-CORPORATIONS. 

§ 1 . No corporation shall be created by special laws, or its charter 
extended, changed or amended, except those for charitable, educa- 
tional, penal, or reformatory purposes, which are to be and remain 
under the patronage and control of the State, but the general assem- 
bly shall provide, by general laws, for the organization of all 
corporations hereafter to be created. 

§ 2. All existing charters or grants of special or exclusive privi- 
leges, under which organization shall not have taken place, or which 
shall not have been in operation within ten days from the time this 
constitution takes effect, shall thereafter have no validity or effect 
whatever. 

§ 3. The general assembly shall provide, by law, that in all 
elections for directors or managers of incorporated companies, every 
stockholder shall have the right to vote, in person or by proxy, for 
the number of shares of stock owned by him, for as many persons as 
there are directors or managers to be elected, or to cumulate said 
shares, and give one candidate as many votes as the number of 
directors multiplied by the number of his shares of stock shall equal, 
or to distribute them on the same principle among as many candi- 
dates as he shall think fit; and such directors or managers shall not 
be elected in any other manner. 

§ 4. No law shall be passed by the general assembly granting 
the right to construct and operate a street railroad within any city, 
town, or incorporated village, without requiring the consent of the 
local authorities having the control of the street or highway pro- 
posed to be occupied by such street railroad. 






166 Crawford's civil government. 

BANKS. 

§ 5. No State bank shall hereafter be created, nor shall the State 
own or be liable for any stock in any corporation or joint stock com- 
pany or association for banking purposes, now created, or to be 
hereafter created. No act of the general assembly authorizing or 
creating corporations or associations, with banking powers, whether 
of issue, deposit or discount, nor amendments thereto, shall go into 
effect, or in any manner be in force, unless the same shall be sub- 
mitted to a vote of the people at the general election next succeeding- 
the passage of the same, and be approved by a majority of all the 
votes cast at such election for or against such law. 

§ 6. Every stockholder in a banking corporation or institution 
shall be individually responsible and liable to its creditors, over and 
above the amount of stock by him or her held, to an amount equal 
to his or her respective shares so held, for all its liabilities accruing 
while he or she remains such stockholder. 

§ 7. The suspension of specie payments by banking institutions, 
on their circulation, created by the laws of this State, shall never be 
permitted or sanctioned. Every banking association now, or which 
may hereafter be, organized under the laws of this State, shall make 
and publish a full and accurate quarterly statement of its affairs 
(which shall be certified to, under oath, by one or more of its officers) 
as may be provided by law. 

§ 8. If a general banking law shall be enacted, it shall provide 
for the registry and countersigning by an officer of state, of all bills 
or paper credit, designed to circulate as moneys, and require security,, 
to the full amount thereof, to be deposited with the State treasurer, 
in United States or Illinois State stocks, to be rated at ten per cent, 
below their par value; and in case of a depreciation of said stocks to 
the amount of ten per cent, below par, the bank or banks owning 
said stocks shall be required to make up said deficiency by deposit- 
ing additional stocks. And said law shall also provide for the 
recording of the names of all stockholders in such corporations, the 
amount of stock held by each, the time of any transfer thereof, and 
to whom such transfer is made. 

RAILROADS. 

§ 9. Every railroad corporation organized or doing business in 
this State, under the laws or authority thereof shall have and main- 
tain a public office or place in this State for the transaction of its 
business, where transfers of stock shall be made, and in which shall 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 167 

be kept, for public inspection, books, in which shall be recorded the 
amount of capital stock subscribed, and b}^ whom; the names of the 
owners of its stock, and the amounts owned by them, respectively; 
the amount of stock paid in, and by whom; the transfers of said 
stock; the amount of its assets and liabilities, and the names and 
place of residence of its officers. The directors of every railroad 
corporation shall, annually, make a report, under oath, to the auditor, 
of public accounts, or some officer to be designated by law, of all 
their acts and doings, which report shall include such matters re- 
lating to r iilroads as may be prescribed by law. And the general 
assembly shall pass laws enforcing, by suitable penalties, the pro- 
visions of this section. 

§ 10. The rolling stock, and all other movable property belong- 
ing to any rail load company or corporation in this State, shall be 
considered personal property, and shall be liable to execution and 
sale in the same manner as the personal property of individuals, and 
the general assembly shall pass no law exempting any such properly 
from execution and sale. 

§ 11. No railroad corporation shall consolidate its stock, property 
or franchises with any other railroad corporation owning a parallel 
or competing line; and in no case shall any consolidation take place 
except upon public notice given, of at least sixty days, to all stock- 
holders, in such manner as may be provided by law. A majority of 
the directors of any railroad corporation, now incorporated or here- 
after to be incorporated by the laws of this State, shall be citizens 
and residents of this State. 

§ 12. Railways heretofore constructed, or that may hereafter be 
constructed in this State, are hereby declared public highways, and 
shall be free to all persons for the transportation of their persons and 
property thereon, under such regulations as may be prescribed by 
law. And the general assembly shall, from time to time, pass laws 
establishing reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transport- 
ation of passengers and freight on the different railroads in this State. 

§ 13. No railroad corporation shall issue any stock or bonds, 
except for money, labor or property actually received, and applied to 
the purposes for which such corporation was created; and all stock 
dividends, and other fictitious increase of the capital stock or ind- bt- 
edness of any such corporation, shall be void. The capital stock of 
no railroad corporation shall be increased for any purpose, except 
upon giving sixty days' public notice, in such manner as may be 
provided by law. 

§ 14. The exercise of the power, and the right of eminent domain 



168 ceawford's civil government. 

shall never be so construed or abridged as to prevent the taking by 
the general assembly, of the property and franchises of incorporated 
companies already organized, and subjecting them to the public 
necessity the same as of individuals. The right of trial by jury shall 
be held inviolate in all trials of claims for compensation, when, in the 
exercise of the said right of eminent domain, any incorporated com- 
jmny shall be interested either for or against the exercise of said right. 
§ 15. The general assembly shall pass laws to correct abuses and 
prevent unjust discrimination and extortion in the rates of freight 
and passenger tariffs on the different railroads in this State, and 
enforce such laws, by adequate penalties, to the extent, if necessary 
for that purpose, of forfeiture of their property and franchises. 

ARTICLE XII.— MILITIA. 

§ 1. The militia of the State of Illinois shall consist of all able- 
bodied male persons, resident in the State, between the ages of 
eighteen and forty-five, except such persons as now are, or hereafter 
may be, exempted by the laws of the United States, or of this S'ate. 

§ 2. The general assembly, in providing for the organization, 
equipment and discipline of the militia, shall conform as nearly as 
practicable to the regulations for the government of the armies of the 
United States. 

§ 3. All militia officers shall be commissioned by the governor, 
and may hold their commissions for such time as the general 
assembly may provide. 

§ 4. The militia shall, in all cases, except treason, felony or 
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance 
at musters and elections and in g ing to and returning from the same. 

§ 5. The military records, banners and relics of the State shall be 
preserved as an enduring memorial of the patriotism and valor of 
Illinois, and it shall be the duty of the general assembly to provide 
by law for the safe keeping of the same. 

§ 6. No person having conscientious scruples against bearing 
arms shall be compelled to do military duty in time of peace : Pro- 
vided, such person shall pay an equivalent for such exemption. 

ARTICLE XIII.— WAREHOUSES. 

§ 1. All elevators or storehouses where grain or other property is 
stored for compensation, whether the property stored be kept sepa- 
rate or not, are declared to be public warehouses. 

§ 2. The owner, lessee or manager of each and every public ware- 
house situated in any town or city of not less than 100,000 inhabitants, 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 169 

shall make weekly statements, under oath, before some officer to be 
designated by law, and keep the same posted in some conspicuous 
place in the office of such warehouse, and shall also file a copy for 
public examination in such place as shall be designated by law, which 
statement shall correctly set forth the am >unt and grade of each and 
every kind of grain in such warehouse, together with such other prop- 
erty as may be stored therein, and what warehouse receipts have been 
issued, and are, at the time of making such statement, outstanding 
therefor; and shall, on the copy posted in the warehouse, note 
daily such changes as may be made in the quantity and grade of grain 
iu such warehouse ; and the different grades of grain shipped in sep- 
arate lots shall not be mixed with inferior or superior grades without 
the consent of the owner or consignee thereof. 

§ 3. The owners of property stored in any warehouse, or holder 
of a receipt for same, shall always be at liberty to examine such prop- 
erty stored, and all the books aud records of the warehouse in regard 
to such property. 

§ 4. All railroad companies and other common carriers on rail- 
roads shall weigh or measure grain at points where it is shipped, and 
receipt for the full amount, and shall be responsible for the delivery 
of such amount to the owner or consignee thereof at the place of 
destination. 

§ 5. All railroad companies receiving and transporting grain, in 
bulk or otherwise, shall deliver the same to any consignee thereof, or 
tiny elevator or public warehouse to which it may be consigned, pro- 
vided such consignee, or the elevator or public warehouse, can be 
reached by any track owned, leased or used, or which can be used, 
by such railroad companies ; and all railroad companies shall permit 
connections to be made with their track, so that any such consignee, 
and any public warehouse, coal bank or coal yard, may be reached 
by the cars on said railroad. 

§ 6 It shall be the duty of the general assembty to pass all neces- 
sary laws to prevent the issue of false and fraudulent warehouse re- 
ceipts, and to give full effect to this article of the constitution, which 
shall be liberally construed so as to protect producers and shippers. 
And the enumeration of the remedies herein named shall not be con- 
strued to deny to the general assembly the power to prescribe by law 
such other and further remedies as may be found expedient, or to 
deprive any person of existing common law remedies. 

§ 7. The general assembly shall pass laws for the inspection of 
grain, for the protection of producers, shippers and receivers of grain 
and produce. 



170 cbawfokd's civil government. 

ARTICLE XIV.— AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 

§ 1. Whenever two-thirds of the members of each house of the 
general assembly shall, by a vote entered upon the journal thereof, 
concur that a convention is necessary to revise, alter or amend the 
constitution, the question shall be submitted to the electors at the 
next general election. If a majority voting at the election vote for a 
convention, the general assembly shall, at the next session, provide for 
a convention, to consist of double the number of members of the sen- 
ate, to be elected in the sam3 manner, at the same places, and in the 
same districts. The general assembly shall, in the act calling the 
convention, designate the day, hour, and place of its meeting, fix the 
pay of its members and officers, and provide for the payment of die- 
same, together with expenses necessarily incurred by the convention 
in the performance of its duties. Before proceeding, the members 
shall take an oath to support the constitution of the United States, 
and of the State of Illinois, and to faithfully discharge their duties as 
members of the convention. The qualification of members shall be 
the same as that of members of the senate, and vacancies occurring 
shall be filled in the manner provided for filling vacancies in the gen- 
eral assembly. Said convention shall meet within three months after 
such election, and prepare such revision, alteration or amendments of 
the constitution as shall be deemed necessary, which shall be sub- 
mitted to the electors for their ratification or rejection, at an election 
appointed by the convention for that purpose, not less than two nor 
more than six months after the adjournment thereof ; and unless so- 
submitted and approved by a majority of the electors voting at the- 
election, no such revision, alterations or amendments shall take 
effect. 

§ 2. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed in either 
house of the general assembly, and if the same shall be voted for by 
two thirds of all the members elected to each of the two houses, such 
proposed amendments, together with the yeas and nays of each house 
thereon, shall be entered in full on their respective journals, and said 
amendments shall be submitted to the electors of this State for adop- 
tion or rejection, at the next election of members of the general as 
sembly, in such manner as may be prescribed by law. The proposed 
amendments shall be published in full at least three months preceding 
the election, and if a majority of the electors voting at, said election 
shall vote for the proposed amendments, they shall become a part of 
this constitution. But the general assembly shall have no power to 
propose amendments to more than one article of this constitution at 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 171 

the same session, nor to the same article oftener than once in four 
years. 

SEPARATE SECTIONS. 

No contract, obligation, or liability whatever, of the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad Company, to pay any money into the State treasury, 
nor any lien of the State upon, or right to tax property of said com- 
pany, in accordance with the provisions of the charter of said com- 
pany, approved February 10, in the year of our Lord 1851, shall ever 
be released, suspended, modified, altered, remitted, or in any manner 
diminished or impaired by legislative or other authority ; and all 
moneys derived from said company, after the payment of the State 
debt, shall be appropriated and set apart for the payment of the ordi- 
nary expenses of the State government, and for no other purposes 
whatever. 

MUNICIPAL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO RAILROADS OR PRI- 
VATE CORPORATIONS. 

No county, city, town, township, or other municipality, shall ever 
become subscriber to the capital stock of any railroad or private cor- 
poration, or make donation to or loan its credit in aid of such corpo- 
ration : Provided,, however, that the adoption of this article shall not 
be construed as affecting the right of any such municipality to make 
such subscriptions where the same have been authorized, under exist- 
ing laws, by a vote of the people of such municipalities prior to suck 
adoption. 

CANAL. 

The Illinois and Michigan Canal shall never be sold or leased until 
the specific proposition for the sale or lease thereof shall first have 
been submitted to a vote of the people of the State at a general elec- 
tion, and have been approved by a majority of all the votes polled at 
such election. The general assembly shall never loan the credit of 
the State, or make appropriations from the treasury thereof, in aid of 
railroads or canals : Provided, that any surplus earnings of any canal 
may be appropriated for its enlargement or extension. 

SCHEDULE. 

That no inconvenience may arise from the alterations and amend- 
ments made in the constitution of this State, and to carry the same 
into complete effect, it is hereby ordained and declared : 

§ 1. That all laws in force at the adoption of this constitution 
not inconsistent therewith, and all rights, actions, prosecutions, 



172 Crawford's civil government. 

claims, and contracts of this State, individuals, or bodies corporate, 
shall continue to be as valid as if this constitution had not been 
adopted. 

§ 2. That all fines, taxes, penalties and forfeitures, due and ow- 
ing to the State of Illinois under the present constitution and laws, 
shall inure to the use of the people of the State of Illinois under this 
constitution. 

§ 3. Recognizances, bonds, obligation, and all other instruments 
entered into or executed before the adoption of this constitution, to 
the people of the State of Illinois, to any State or county officer or 
public body, shall remain binding and valid ; and rights and liabili- 
ties upon the same shall continue, and all crimes and misdemeanors 
shall be tried and punished as though no change had been made in 
the constitution of this State. 

§ 4. County courts for the transaction of county business in coun- 
ties not having adopted township organization, shall continue in ex- 
istence and exercise their present jurisdiction until the board of county 
commissioners provided in this constitution is organized in pursuance 
of an act of the general assembly ; and the county courts in all other 
counties shall have the same power and jurisdiction they now possess 
until otherwise provided by general law. 

§ 5. All existing courts which are not in this constitution specifi- 
cally enumerated, shall continue in existence and exercise their pres- 
ent jurisdiction until otherwise provided by law. 

§ 6. All persons now filling any office or appointment shall con- 
tinue in the exercise of the duties thereof according to their respective 
commissions or appointments, unless by this constitution it is other- 
wise directed. 

§ 7. On the day this constitution is submitted to the people for 
ratification, an election shall be held for judges of the supreme court, 
in the second, third, sixth and seventh judicial election districts, 
designated in this constitution, and for the election of three judges of 
the circuit court in the county of Cook, as provided for in the article 
of this constitution relating to the judiciary ; at which election every 
person entitled to vote, according to the terms of this constitution, 
shall be allowed to vote, and the election shall be otherwise conducted, 
returns made and certificates issued, in accordance with existing laws, 
except that no registry shall be required at said election ; Provided, 
that at said election in the county of Cook no elector shall vote for 
more than two candidates for circuit judge. If, upon canvassing the 
votes for and against the adoption of this constitution, it shall appear 
that there has been polled a greater number against than for it, then 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 173 

no certificates of election shall be issued for any of said supreme or 
circuit judges. 

§ S. This constitution shall be submitted to the people of the 
State of Illinois for adoption or rejection, at an election to be held on 
the first Saturday in July, A.D 1870, and there shall be separately 
submitted at the same time, for adoption or rejection : 

Sections nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen t . 
relating to railroads, in the article entitled corporations ; 

The article entitled counties ; 

The article entitled warehouses ; 

The question of requiring three-fifths vote to remove a county 
seat ; 

The section relating to the Illinois Central railroad ; 

The section relating to minority representation ; 

The section relating to municipal subscriptions to railroads or pri- 
vate corporations, and 

The section relating to the canal. 

Every person entitled to vote under the provisions of this consti- 
tution, as defined in the article in relation to " suffmge," shall be en- 
titled to vote for the adoption or rejection of this constitution, and for 
or against the articles, sections and questions aforesaid, separately 
submitted ; and the said qualified electors shall vote at the usual 
places of voting unless otherwise provided, and the said elections 
shall be conducted, and the returns thereof made, according to the 
laws now in force regulating general elections, except that no registry 
shall be required at said election ; Provided, lioicever, that the polls 
shall be kept open for the reception of ballots until sunset of said day 
of election. 

§ 9. The Secretary of State shall, at least twenty days before said 
election, cause to be delivered to the county clerk of each county, 
blank poll-books, tally-lists and forms of return and twice the number 
of properly prepared printed ballots for the said election that there 
are voters in such county, the expense whereof shall be audited and 
paid as other public printing ordered by the Secretary of State is, by 
law, required to be audited and paid ; and the several county clerks 
shall, at least five days before said election, cause to be distributed to 
the board of election, in each election district, in their respective coun- 
ties, said blank poll-books, tally lists, forms of return, and tickets. 

§ 10. At the said election the ballots shall be in the following; 
form : 



174 CRAWFORD' S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

NEW CONSTITUTION TICKET. 

For all the propositions on this ticket which are not canceled with 
ink or pencil ; and against all propositions which are so canceled. 

For the new constitution. 

For the sections relating to railroads in the article entitled corpo- 
rations. 

Foi the article entitled counties. 

For the article entitled warehouses. 

For a three-fifths vote to remove county seats. 

For the sections relating to the Illinois Central railroad. 

For the section relating to minority representation. 

For the section relating to municipal subscriptions to railroads or 
private corporations. 

For the section relating to the canal. 

Each of said tickets shall be counted as a vote cast for each prop- 
osition thereon not canceled with ink or pencil, and against each 
proposition so canceled, and returns thereof shall be made accordingly 
by the judges of election. 

§ 11. The returns of the whole vote cast, and of the votes for the 
adoption or rejection of this Constitution, and for or against the arti- 
cles and sections respectively submitted, shall be made by the several 
county clerks, as is now provided by law, to the Secretary of State, 
within twenty days after the election ; and the returns of the said 
votes shall, within five days thereafter, be examined and canvassed 
by the Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of State, or any two of them, 
in the presence of the Governor, and proclamation shall be made by 
the Governor, forthwith, of the result of the canvass. 

§ 12. If it shall appear that a majority of the votes polled are 
"for the new Constitution," then so much of this Constitution as was 
not separately submitted to be voted on by articles and sections shall 
be the supreme law of the State of Illinois, on and after Monday, the 
8th day of August, A. D. 1870 ; but if it shall appear that a majoiity 
of the votes polled were "against the new Constitution," then so 
much thereof as was not separately submitted to be voted on by arti- 
cles and sections shall be null and void. If it shall appear that a ma- 
jority of the votes polled are "for the sections relating to railroads^ 
in the article entitled 'corporations/" sections nine, ten, eleven, 
twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen, relating to railroads in the said 
article, shall be a part of the Constitution of this State, but if a ma- 
jority of said votes are against such sections, they shall be null and 
void If a majority of the votes polled are "for the article entitled 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 175 

"counties, " such article shall be a part of the Constitution of this 
State, and shall be substituted for article seven in tnt present Consti- 
tution, entitled "counties;" but if a majority of said votes are against 
such article, the same shall be null and void. If a majority of votes 
polled are for the article entitled " warehouses," such article shall be 
a part of the Constitution of this State ; but if a majority of the votes 
are against said article, the same shall be null and void. If a major- 
ity of the votes polled are for either of the sections separately submit- 
ted relating respectively to the "Illinois Central railroad," " minority 
representation," " municipal subscriptions to railroads or private 
corporations," and the " canal," then such of said sections as shall 
receive such majority shall be a part of the Constitution of this State ; 
but each of said sections so separately submitted, against which, re- 
spectively, there shall be a majority of the votes polled, shall be null 
and void ; Provided, that the section relating to " minority represen- 
tation," shall not be declared adopted unless the portion of tbe Con- 
stitution not separately submitted to be voted on by articles and sec- 
tions shall be adopted ; and in case said section relating to " minority 
representation " shall become a part of the Constitution it shall be 
substituted for sections seven and eight of the legislative articles. If 
a majority of tbe votes cast at such election shall be for a three fifths 
vote lo remove a county seat, then the words "a majority" shall be 
stricken out of section four of the article on counties, and the words 
"three-fifths" shall be inserted in lieu thereof; and the following 
words shall be added to said section, to- wit : " But when an attempt 
is made to remove a county seat to a point nearer to the centre of a 
county, then a majority vote shall only be necessary." If the forego- 
ing proposition shall not receive a majority of the votes as aforesaid, 
then the same shall have no effect whatever. 

§ 13. Immediately after the adoption of this Constitution, the 
Oovernor and Secretary of State shall proceed to ascertain and fix the 
apportionment of the State for members of the first house of Repre- 
sentatives under this Constitution. The apportionment shall be based 
upon the federal census of the year A. D. 1870. of the State of Illi- 
nois, and shall be made strictly in accordance with the rules and prin- 
ciples announced in the article on the legislative department of this 
Constitution : Provided, that in case the federal census aforesaid 
cannot be ascertained prior to Friday, the 23d day of September, 
A. D. 1870, then the said apportionment shall be based upon the 
State census of the year A. D. 1865, in accordance with the rules and 
principles aforesaid. The Governor shall, on or before Wednesday, 
the 28th day of September, A. D. 1870, make official announcement 



176 Crawford's civil government. 

of the said apportionment, under the great seal of the State, and o^e 
hundred copies thereof, duly certified, shall be forthwith transmitted 
by the Secretary of State to each county clerk for distribution. 

§ 14. The districts shall be regularly numbered by the Secretary 
of State, commencing with Alexander County as No. 1, and proceed- 
ing thence northwardly through the State, and terminating with the 
county of Cook ; but no county shall be numbered as more than one 
district, except the county of Cook, which shall constitute three dis- 
tricts, each embracing the territory contained in the now existing 
representative districts of said county. And on the Tuesday after the 
first Monday in November, A. D. 1870. the members of the first house 
of representatives under this Constitution shall be elected according 
to the apportionment fixed and announced as aforesaid, and shall hold 
their offices for two years, and until their successors shall be elected 
and qualified. 

§ 15. The senate, at its first session under this Constitution, shall 
consist of fifty members, to be chosen as follows . At the general 
election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of Novem- 
ber, A. D. 1870, two senators shall be elected in districts where term 
of senators expire on the first Monday of January, A. D. 1871, or 
where there shall be a vacancy, and in the remaining districts one 
senator shall be elected. Senators so elected shall hold their office 
for two years. 

§ 16. The general assembly, at its first session held after the 
adoption of this Constitution, shall proceed to apportion the State for 
members of the senate and house of representatives, in accordance 
with the provisions of the article on the legislative department. 

§ 17. When this Constitution shall be ratified by the people, the 
Governor shall forthwith, after having ascertained the fact, issue 
writs of election to the sheriffs of the several counties of this State, 
or in case of vacancies, to the coroners, for the election of all the 
officers, the time of whose election is fixed by this Constitution or 
schedule, and it shall be the duties of said sheriffs or coroners to give 
such notice of the time and place of said election as is now prescribed 
by law. 

§ 18. All laws of the State of Illinois, and all official writings, 
and the executive, legislative and judicial proceedings, shall be con- 
ducted, preserved and published in no other than the English lan- 
guage. 

§ 19. The general assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry 
into effect the provisions of this Constitution. 

§ 20. The circuit clerks of the different counties having a popu- 



CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. 177 

lation over sixty thousand, shall continue to be recorders [ex-officio) 
for their respective counties under this Constitution, until the expira 
tion of their respective terns. 

§ 21. The judges of all courts of record in Cook county shall, in 
lieu of any salary provided for in this Constitution, receive the com- 
pensation now provided by law until the adjournment of the first 
ssssion of the general assembly after the adoption of this Constitution. 

§ 22. The present judge of the circuit court of Cookcountysh-.il 
continue to hold the circuit court of Lake county until otherwise 
provided by law. 

§ 23. When this Constitution shall be adopted, and take effect 
as the supreme law of the State of Illinois, the two-mill tax provided 
to be annually assessed and collected upon each dollar's worth of 
taxable property in addition to all other taxes, as set forth in article 
fifteen of the now existing Constitution, shall cease to be assessed 
after the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy. 

§ 24. Nothing contained in this Constitution shall be so construed 
as to deprive the general assembly of power to authorize the city of 
Quincy to create any indebtedness for railroad or municipal purposes, 
for which the people of said city shall have voted, and to which they 
shall have given, by such vote, their assent, prior to the thirteenth 
day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- 
dred and sixty-nine : Provided, that no such indebtedness so created 
shall in any part thereof be paid by the State, or from any State rev- 
enue, tax or fund, but the same shall be paid, if at all, by the said 
city of Quincy alone, and by taxes levied upon the taxable property 
thereof: And provided further, that the general assembly shall have 
no power in the premises that it could not exercise under the present 
Constitution of this State. 

§ 25. In case this Constitution and the articles and sections sub- 
mitted separately be adopted, the existing Constitution shall cease in 
all its provisions ; and in case this Constitution be adopted, and any 
one or more of the articles or sections submitted separately be de- 
feated, the provisions of the existing Constitution (if any) on the 
same subject shall remain in force 

§ 26. The provisions of this Constitution required to be executed 
prior to the adoption or rejection thereof shall take effect and be in 
force immediate^. 

Done in convention at the capitol, in the city of Springfield, on 
the thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and seventy, and of the independence of the United 
States of America the ninety-fourth. 



178 Crawford's civil government. 

THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO SEC. 31, ART. 4, WAS 
ADOPTED IN 1878: 

The General Assembly may pass laws* permitting the owners of 
lands to construct drains, ditches and levees for agricultural, sanitary 
or mining purposes, across the lands of others, and provide for the 
organization of drainage districts, and vest the corporate authorities 
thereof with power to construct and maintain levees, drains and 
ditches, and to keep in repair all drains, ditches, and levees hereto- 
fore constructed under the laws of this State, b} T special assessments 
upon the property benefited thereby. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more per- 
fect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tran- 
quility, provide for the common defence, promote Preamble. 
the general welfare, and secure the blessings of lib- 
erty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this 
Constitution for the United States of America. 

ARTICLE I. 

SECTION I. 

All legislative powers herein granted shall be congress, 
vested in a Congress of the United States, which 
shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. 

SECTION II. 

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members 
chosen every second year by the people of the several 
States, and the electors in each State shall have the how^hosen^ 68 ' 
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numer- 
ous branch of the State legislature. 

No person shall be a Representative who shall Qualifications of 

represcntciti ves 

not have attained the age of twenty-five years, and 

been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, 

when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be 

chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the 
several States which may be included within this 
Uaion, according to their respective numbers, Apportionment of 
which shall be determined by adding to the whole ^aalrecit&xes. 
number of free persons, including tho^e bound to 
service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three- 
fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made 
within three years after the first meeting of the Con- 
gress of the United States, and within every subse- c ^ ls evcry ten 
quent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall 

179 



180 Crawford's civil government. 

by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one 
for every thirty thousand, bui each State shall have at least one 
representative ; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State 
of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts, 
eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut rive, 
New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, 
Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina rive, 
and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representation 
tined! 101681 h ° W from an y State » ,be executive authority thereof shall 

issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. 
Representatives The House of Representatives shall choose their 

and^br^Tm- Speaker and other officers ; and shall have the sole 
peachments. power of impeachment. 

SECTION III. 

senate, how The Senate of the United States shall be composed 

of two Senators from each State, chosen by the legis- 
lature thereof, for six years ; and each Senator shall have one vote. 
Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the 

first election, they shall be divided as equally as may 
Senators classed. _ , , ™. * , v. 

be into three classes. The seats of the Senators 

of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year ; 

of the second class, at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the 

third class, at the expiiation of the sixth year, so that one-third may 
be chosen every second year ; and if vacancies hap- 

Vacancies, how p en t)y res jg na ti n or otherwise, during the recess of 
the legislature of any State, the executive thereof 

may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the 

legislature, which shall then fill such vacanc ies. 

No person shall be a Senator, who shall not have attained to the 
age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen 

^e D a ators ti0n ° f ot * the United States, and who shall not, when 
elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which he 

shall be chosen. 

The Vice President of the United States shall be 

presid P e ieSident t0 President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, un- 
less they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and 
also a President pro tempore in the absence of the 

Vice President or when he shall exercise the office of President of 

the United States. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, 131 

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. 
When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath 
or affirmation. When the President of the United ™*} s of im P each " 
States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside ; and 
no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds 
of the members present. 

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not ex- Juigment inim- 

Deachments 
tend further than to removal from office, and dis- 
qualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, Effectof# 
trust or profit under the United States ; but the 
party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, 
trial, judgment, and punishment, according to law. 

SECTION IV. 

The times, places, and manner of holding elec- Elections, when 
tions for Senators and Representatives shall be pre- 
scribed in each State by the legislature thereof ; but the Congress 
may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to 
the places of choosing Senators. 

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Congress assem- 
year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday 
in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. 

SECTION V. 

Each house shall be the judge of the elections, Elections, how 

returns, and qualifications of its own members, and JU ° 

a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do Quorum, 

business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from Absent members, 
day to day, and may be authorized to compel the at- 
tendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penal- 
ties as each house may provide. 

Each house may determine the rules of its pro- Rules, 

ceedini^s, punish its members for disorderly behavior. Expulsion 
and with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a 
member 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceed- Journals to be 

ir . . ' i i- i *i kept and publish 

ings, and from time to time publish the same, except- e d. 
such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy, Yeas and nays 
and the yeas and nays of the members of either 
house on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those pres- 
ent, be entered on the journal. 



182 Crawford's civil government. 

Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall without the 

... consent of the other, adiourn for more than three 

Adjournment. 

days, nor to any other place than that in which the 

two houses shall be sitting. 



SECTION VI. 

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation 

for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid 
Compensation. _ , „ J ' ^ 

out of the treasury of the United States. They 

shall in all cases except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be 

privileged from arrest during their attendance at the 
Privileges. . ° . ° 

session of their respective houses, and in going to 

and returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in either 

house, they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he 

was elected, be appointed to any civil office under 
Members not ap. ^ ^ . _ ' , _ . n ^ , . _ , ,, „ 

pointiid to office, the authority of the United States, which shall have 

Officers of gov- ^ een create d, or the emoluments whereof shall have 
emment can not been increased during such time ; and no person 

V)P lYlPTYlV)PT*S 

holding any office under the United States shall be a 
member of either house during his continuance in office. 



SECTION VII. 

Revenue bills. ^ kills for raising revenue shall originate in the 

House of Representatives ; but the Senate may pro- 
pose or concur with amendments as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives 

and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be 

sented to the presented to the President of the United States ; if 



president. ^e approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return 

His powers over it, with his objections to that house in which it shall 

have originated, who shall enter the objections at 
Proceedings on i ar g e ou their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. 

If after such reconsideration two -thirds of that house 
shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec- 
tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, 
and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. 
But in all cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas 
and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the 
bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



183 



any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sun- 
days excepted) after it shall have been presented to 
him. the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he if no t returned in 
had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjourn- ten days - 
ment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the 
Senate and House of Representatives may be neces- 
sary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be resolutions to be 
presented to the President of the United States ; and p^? d v e e n d t by the 
before the same shall take effect, shall be approved 
by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two- 
thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the 
rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill. 

SECTION VIII. 



The Congress shall have power to lay and collect 
taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts 
and provide for the common defence and general 
welfare of the United States ; but all duties, imposts 
and excises shall be uniform throughout the United 
, States ; 

To borrow money on the credit of the United 
States ; 

To regulate commerce with foreign nation, and 
among the several States, and with the Indian tribes. 

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and 
uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies through- 
out the United States ; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and 
of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and 
measures ; 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeit- 
ing the securities and current coin of the United 
States ; 

To establish post offices and post roads ; 

To promote the progress of science and useful 
arts, by securing for limited times to authors and in- 
ventors the exclusive right to their respective writin 
eries ; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme 
Court •. 



Power of Con- 
gress to lay taxes 
— pay debts. 

General welfare. 

Duties uniform. 



Borrow money. 

Commerce. 

Naturalization. 
Barkruptcy. 

Coin money, 

Weights and mea- 
sures. 

Counterfeiting. 



Post roads. 

Promote arts and 
science. 

°:s and discov- 



Inferior courts. 



184 Crawford's civil government. 

To defiae and punish piracies and felonies cons- 
piracies &c. 

mitted on the high seas, and offences against the law 

of nations ; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and 

Declare war and . . . . . 

make captures. reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on 

land and water ; 
- . . To raise and support armies, but no approp iation 

of money to that use shall be for a longer term than 

two years ; 
Navy. To provide and maintain a navy ; 

Rules and articles To make rules for the government and regulation 

of war. Q f t | ie j aQC | ancl nava ] f orces ; 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute 
Call out militia. , l n TT . & 

the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and 

repel invasions ; 
Organize and gov- To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplin- 
ern militia. j n g { ^e militia, and for governing such part of them 

Officers of mill- as may be employed in the seivice of the United 

States, reserving to the States respectively, the ap- 
pointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia 
according to the discipline prescribed by Congress ; 

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases what- 
Exelusivelegisla- , ,. . . A , .. „ 

tion over seat of soever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles 

government. square) as may, by cession of particular States, and 

the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of 
the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places pur- 
chased by the consent of the legislature of the State 
arsenals, docks' in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, 
&c - magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful 

buildings ; — and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and 

To make sreneral 

laws to carry pow- proper for carrying into execution the foregoing 

ers into effect. powers, and all other powers vested by this Consti- 
tution in the Government of the United States, or in any department 
or officer thereof. 

SECTION IX. 

importation of The migration or importation of such persons as 

slaves allowed till „ . ~ . . . ,, .. . , 

1808. any of the States now existing shall think proper to 

admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior 

to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty 

may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for 

each person. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



185 



The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall 
not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion 
or invasion the public safety may re uire it. 

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be 
passed. 

No capitation, or other direct tax shall be laid, 
unless in proportion to the census or enumeration 
hereinbefore directtd to be taken. 

No tax or duty shall be laid on article s exported 
from any State 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of 
commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over 
those of another : nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one State 
be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. 

No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but 
in consequence of appropriations made by law ; and 
a regular statement and account of the receipts and 
expenditures of all public money shall be published 
from time to time. 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United 
States ; and no person holding any office of profit or 
trust under them, shall, without the consent of the 
Consrress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any 
kind whatever, from <my king, prince, or foreign State. 



Habeas corpus. 



Attainder and ex 
post facto laws. 

Direct taxes. 



No exportation 
duty. 

Commerce be- 
tween the States. 



Money, how 

drawn from the 
treasuty. 

To be published. 



No nobility. 

Foreign presents 
and titles. 



SECTION X. 

No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or Powers denied to 
confederation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; 
coin money ; emit bills of credit ; make anything but gold and 
silver coin a tender in payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex 
post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant 
any title of nobility. 

No state shall, without the consent of the Congress other powers de- 

, . , nied to States, 

lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, ex- 

cept what may be absolute^ necessary for executing its inspection 

laws; and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any 

State on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of 

the United States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision 

and control of the Congress. 

No State shall, without the consent of Congress. Further denial of 

, , . „ , , . . - powers to States. 

Jay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships of 

Tvar in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with an- 



186 Crawford's civil government. 

other State, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless 
actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit 
of delay. 

AETICLE II. 

SECTION I. 

President of the The executive power shall be vested in a Presi- 

dent of the United States of America. He shall hold 
his office during the term of four years, and together with the Vice 
President, chosen for the same term, be elected as follows : 

Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the 
panted 8 ' h0W 9P legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, 
equal to the whole number of Senators and Repre- 
sentatives to which the State may be entitled in Congress ; but no 
Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or 
profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector. 

The electors shall meet in their respective States, 

Electors to meet _ _ „ -. 

and to elect a Pre- and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at 

President/ ™* least sba11 not be au ^habitant of tnt -' same State with 

themselves. And they shall make a list of all the 

persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which list 

they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the 

government of the United States, directed to the President of the 

Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the 

Inn 'congres°s Unt " presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, 

open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be 

counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be 

the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of 

electors appointed ; and if there be more than one who have such a 

maioritv, and have an equal number of votes, then 
Re oresentatives 

to choose if eiec- the House of Representatives shall immediately 
tors fan. choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if 

no person have a majority, then from the five highest on the list the 
said House shall in like manner choose the President. But in choos- 
ing tile President, the votes shall be taken by States, 
Votes by States. * . ' . 0i . . 

the representatives from each State having one vote ; 

a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members 

from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall 

be necessary for a choice. In every case, after the choice of the 

President, the person having the greatest number of 

votes of the electors, shall be the Vice President. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 187 

But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the 

Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice President* 

The Congress may determine the time of choos- 

11 i i • i ., i ii Election and 

mg the electors, and the day on which they shall meeting of eiec- 

give their votes; which day shall be the same tors ' 

throughout the United {States. 

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citi- Qualifications of 

President 

zen of the United btates, at the time of the adoption 
of this Constitution shall be eligible to the office of President; neither 
shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained 
to the age of thirty -five years, and been fourteen years a resident 
within the United States. 

In case of the removal of the President from Removal, dea^iu 

_ " /. i . i i • . , .i. &c, of President-. 

office, or of his death, resignation, or inability, to 

discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall 
devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide 
for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the 
President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as 
President, and such officer shall then act accordingly, until the disa- 
bility be removed, or a President shall be elected. 

The President shall, at stated times, receive for Compensation of 

President 
his services a compensation, which shall neither be 

increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have 

been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other 

emolument from the United States, or any of them. 

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the 
following oath or affirmation : — 

" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faith- 0atn 
fully execute the office of President of the United 
States, and will to the best of my ability preserve ; protect, and de- 
fend the Constitution of the United States " 

SECTION II. 

The President shall be Commander-in-chief of Powers and duties 
the army and navy of the United States, and of the 
militia of the several States, when called into the actual service of the 
United States ; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the princi- 
pal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject 
relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have 

* This clause of the Constitution has been amended. See twelfth article of the 
amendments, page 195. 



188 CRAWFORD'S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United 
States, except in cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the senators present 
concur; and he shall nomiuate, and, by and with the advice and con- 
sent of the Senate, shall appoint, ambassadors, oilier 
pu^^officTrs. ° f P ublic ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme 
Court, and all other officers of the United States, 
w 7 hose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and 
which shall ue established by law ; but the Congress may by law 
vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as the} 7 think proper, 
in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of 
departments. 

The President shall have power to fill up all va- 
fice. anCieS in ° f cancies that may happen during the recess of the 
Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire 
at the end of their next session. 

SECTION III. 

Turther powers He shall from time to time give to the Congress 

rodent! ° f the information of the state of the Union, and recom- 
mend to their consideration such measures as he 
shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may, on extraordinary occa- 
sions, convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of dis- 
agreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, 
he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall 
receive ambassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care 
that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the 
officers of the United States. 

SECTION IV. 

impeachment ^' ne P res ident, Vice President, and all civil officers 

of the United States, shall be removed from office on 
impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high 
crimes and misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE III. 

SECTION L 

judiciary and ten- The judicial power of the United States shall be 

vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior 

courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 189 

The judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their 
offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for 
their services a compensation which shall not be diminished during 
their continuance in office. 

SECTION II. 

The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in Power of the 
law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the JU lcldiy ' 
laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, 
under their authority ; — to all cases affecting ambassadors, other 
public ministers, and consuls ; to all cases of admiialty and maritime 
jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United States shall be a 
party ; to controversies between two or more States ; between a 
State and citizens of another State ; between citizens of different 
States ; between citizens of the same State claiming lands under 
grants of different States, and between a State, or the citizens thereof, 
and foreign States, citizens or subjects. 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, or other public jurisdiction of 
ministers and consuls, and ihose in w T hich a State t,ie Supreme 
shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have 
original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the 
Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and 
fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Con- 
gress shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of im- Trials by jury, 
peachment, shall be by jury ; and such trial shall be And wherenel(L 
held in the State where the said crimes shall have 
been committed ; but when not committed within any State, the 
trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law 
have directed. 

SECTION III. 

Treason against the United States shall consist Treason, 
only in levying war against them, or in adhering to 
their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be 
convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the 
same overt act, or on confession in open court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare the ^ T ° corruption of 
punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason 
shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture except during the life 
of the person attainted. 



190 Crawford's civil government. 

AETICLE IV. 

SECTION I. 

Acts of states ac- Full faith and credit shall be given in each State 

credit eel 

to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings 
of every other State. And the Congress may by general laws pre- 
-scribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall 
"be proved, and the effect thereof. 

SECTION II. 

Privileges of citi- The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all 

privileges and immunities of citizens in the several 

States. 
Fugirives from . A person charged in any State with treason, fel- 
Hveredup. ony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice and 

be found in another State, shall, on demand of the 
executive authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, 
to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one State, 
tobe delivered up. under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, 

in consequence cf any law or regulation therein, be 
discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on 
claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. 

SECTION III. 

New states New States may be admitted by the Congress 

into this Union ; but no new State shall be formed 
or erected within the jurisdiction of any other State ; nor any State 
be formed by the junction of two or more States, or part of 
States, without the consent of the legislatures of the States concerned 
as well as of the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and 
er l property of make all needful rules and regulations respecting the 
United states. territory or other property belonging to the United 
States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to 
prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular State. 

SECTION IV. 

Republican form The United States shall guaranty to every State in 
this Union a republican form of government, and 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 191 

shall protect each of them against invasion, and on Protection of 

States 
application of the legislature, or of the executive, 

(when the legislature cannot be convened,) against domestic vio- 
lence. 



AETICLE V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses Amendments of 

. „ , , ,, , the Constitution. 

shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to 

this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two- 
thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing 
amendments, which in either case, shall be valid to all intents and 
purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legisla- 
tures of three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three- 
fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be 
proposed by the Congress ; provided that no amendment which may 
be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, 
shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth 
section of the first article ; and that no State, without its consent, 
shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. 



AETICLE VI. 

All debts contracted and engagements entered Deuts of former 
into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall fg n e ^ enl rec " 
be as valid against the United States under this Con- 
stitution as under the confederation. 

This Constitution, and the laws of the United what constitutes 
States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and 
all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the 
United States, shall be the supreme law of the land ; and the judges 
in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or 
laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The Senators and Representatives before men- Oath of rubiic 
Honed, and the members of the several State legisla- 
tures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United 
States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or affirma- 
tion, to support this Constitution ; but no religious 

No relisrious test 
test shall ever be required as a qualification to any 

office or public trust under the United States. 



192 



CRAWFORD S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 



Ratification. 



AETICLE VII. 

The ratification of the conventions of nine States 
shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Con. 
stitution between the States so ratifying the same. 

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the States present 
the seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one 
thousand seven hundred and eighty seven and of the Independ- 
ence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness 
whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names. 

GEO. WASHINGTON— 
PresicVt and deputy from Virginia. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

John Langdon, 
Nicholas Gil man. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Nathaniel Gorham, 
Rufus King. 

CONNECTICUT. 

Wra, Saml. Johnson, 
Roger Sherman. 

NEW YORK. 

Alexander Hamilton. 

NEW JERSEY. 

Wil. Livingston, 
David Brearley, 

Win. Paterson, 
Jona. Dayton. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

B. Franklin, 
Thomas Mifflin, 
Robt. Mori is, 
Geo. Clymer, 
Tho. Fitzsirnons, 
Jared Ingersoll, 
James Wilson, 
Gouv. Morris. 
Attest : 



DELAWARE. 

Geo. Read, 

Gunning Bedford, jun'r, 
John Dickinson. 
Richard Bassett, 
Jaco. Broom. 

MARYLAND. 

James McHenry, 

Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer, 

Danl. Carroll. 

VIRGINIA. 

John Blair, 
James Madison, jr. 

NORTH CAROLINA. 

Wm. Blount, 

Rich'd Dobbs Spaight, 

Hu. Williamson. 

SOUTH CAROLINA. 

J. Rutledge, 

Charles Coatesworth Pinckney, 

Charles Pinckney, 

Pierce Butler. 

GEORGIA. 

William Few, 
Abr. Baldwin. 

WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



193 



AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 



ARTICLE I. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an estab- 
lishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise 
thereof ; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of 
the press ; or the right of the people peaceably to 
assemble, and to petition the government for a re- 
dress of grievances. 

ARTICLE II. 

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the 
security of a free State, the right of the people to 
keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 



No State religion. 

Freedom of 
speech and tin 
press. 

Right of petition. 



State militia. 



ARTICLE III. 

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in 
any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in ™ c ^2 e g J. olaier8 
time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. 



ARTICLE IV. 



Rights of domi« 
cile and person. 



The right of the people to be secure in their per- 
sons, houses, papers, aud effects, against unreason- 
able searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants 
shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirma- 
tion, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the 
persons or things to be seized. 



ARTICLE V. 



Holding for crime 
limited. 



No person shall be held to answer for a capital 
or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a present 
ment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the 
land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time 
of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject for the 
same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or 
limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case self not tcfbTcom- 
to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of P elled - 



194 



CRAWFORD S CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 



Right of private life, liberty, or property, without due process of 

property inviola- , * „ . f ^ j. ^ £ ^t 

bie. law ; nor shall private property be taken for public 

use, without just compensation. 

ARTICLE VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall en- 
joy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an 
impartial jury of the State and district wherein the 
crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been pre- 
viously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and 
cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against 
him ; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his 
favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence. 



Right of jury trial 
etc , in criminal 

cases. 



Jury trial in civil 
cases. 



ARTICLE VII. 

In suits at common law, where the value in con- 
troversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of 
trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be 
otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than accord- 
ing to the rules of the common law. 



Ban, fines and 
punishments not 
excessive. 



Rights reserved 
by people. 



Hights reserved 
by States and 
people. 



ARTICLE VIII. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor exces- 
sive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punish- 
ments inflicted. 

ARTICLE IX. 

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain 
rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage 
others retained by the people. 

ARTICLE X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by 
the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, 
are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. 

ARTICLE XI. 



Suits against 
States. 



The judicial power of the United States shall not 
be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, 
commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by 
citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign 
State. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 195 

ARTICLE XII. 

The electors shall meet in their respective States Electing Presi . 
and vote by ballot for President and Vice President, dent, and vice 

I* rp si (if* nt" 

one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of 
the same State with themselves ; they shall name in their ballots the 
person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted 
for as Vice President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons 
voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice President, 
and of the number of votes for each ; which lists they shall sign and 
certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of government of the United 
States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the 
Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted ; — 
the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall 
be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number 
of electors appointed ; and if no person have such a majority, then 
from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on 
the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives 
shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing 
the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation 
from each State having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall 
consist of a member or members from two thirds of the States, and a 
majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. And if the 
House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the 
right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of 
March, next following, then the Vice President shall act as President, 
as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the 
President. 

The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice President, 
shall be the Vice President, if such number be a majority of the 
whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a ma- 
jority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate 
shall choose the Vice President ; a quorum for the purpose shall con- 
sist of tw T o thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority 
of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person 
constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible 
to that of Vice President of the United States. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary Slavery prohib- 
servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof 



196 Crawford's civil government. 

the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the 
United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation. 

ARTICLE XIY. 
„. f1 , . . Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in 

Civil rights. . 

the united States, and subject to the jurisdiction 

thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the State wherein 

they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall 

abridge the privileges and immunities of citizens of the United States. 

Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property 

without due process of law, nor to deny to any person within its 

jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 

„ , m ' Sec. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned 

Basis of Congres- . -, « *. . • 

atonal representa- among the several States according to their respect- 

tion * ive numbers, counting the whole number of persons 

in each State, excluding Indians not taxed ; but whenever the right 
to vote at any election for electors of President and Vice President, 
or United States Representatives in Congress, executive and judicial 
officers, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of 
the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, 
and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for 
participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of representation 
therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such 
male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty- 
one years of age in that State. 

Sec 3 No person shall be a Senator or Repre- 
?oroffice flCati0n sentative in Congress, elector of President and Vice 
President, or hold any office, civil or military, under 
the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken 
an oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United 
States, or as a member of any State Legislature,. or as an executive or 
judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United 
States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the 
same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof ; but Congress 
may, by a vote of two thirds of each House, remove such disability. 
., a , . ^ Sec 4. The validity of the public debt of the 

National debt — j r 

debts in aid of re- United States authorized bylaw, including debts in- 
curred for the payment of pensions and bounties for 
service in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques- 
tioned ; but neither the United States nor any State shall assume to 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 197 

pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion 
against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation 
of any slave, but all such debts, obligations, and claims shall be ille- 
gal and void. 

Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropri- 
ate legislation, the provisions of this article. 

ARTICLE XV. 

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote 
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State, 
on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude. 

Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation. 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 



A Declaration by the Representatives of the United 

States of America, in Congress Assembled, 

July 4, 1776. 

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for 
one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them 
with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth the 
separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's 
God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires 
that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separa- 
tion. "■ 

We hold these truths to be self-evident-that all men are created 
equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalien- 
able rights ; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness ; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted 
among men. deriving their just powers from the consent of the 
governed ; that, whenever any form of government becomes destruc- 
tive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, 
and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such 
principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall 
seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, 
indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be 
changed for light and transient causes ; and, accordingly, all experi- 
ence has shown that mankind are more disposed to "suffer, while 
evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms 
to which they are accustomed. But when a long train ofabuses and 
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to 
reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their 
duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for 
their future security. 

Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies, and such 
is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former sys- 
tem of government. The history of the present king of Great 
Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having, 

198 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 199 

in direct object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these 
states. To prove this let facts be submitted to a candid world : 

He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and neces- 
sary for the public good. 

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and 
pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation until his 
assent should be obtained ; and, when so suspended, he has utterly 
neglected to attend to them. 

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large 
districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of 
representation in the Legislature — a right inestimable to them, and 
formidable to tyrants only. 

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncom- 
fortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, 
for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his 
measures. 

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for opposing 
with manly rirmness his invasions on the rights of the people. 

He has refused, for a long time after such dissolution, to cause 
others to be elected whereby the legislative powers, incapable of 
annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise ; 
the state remaining, in the mean time, exposed to all the dangers of 
invasion from without and convulsions within. 

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states ; for 
that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners, 
refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither and rais- 
ing the conditions of new appropriations of lands 

He has obstructed the administration of justice by refusing his 
assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone for the tenure of 
their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. 

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms 
of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. 

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies with- 
out the consent of our Legislature. 

He has affected to render the military independent of and supe- 
rior to the civil power. 

He has combiued with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign 
to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his 
assent to their acts of pretended legislation ; 

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: 

For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any 



200 Crawford's civil government. 

murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these 
states : 

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world : 

For imposing taxes on us without our consent : 

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury : 

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended 
offences : 

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring 
province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarg- 
ing its boundaries, so as to render it at once an example and fit instru- 
ment for introducing the same absolute rule into these colonies : 

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, 
and altering fundamentally the powers of our governments : 

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves 
invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. 

He has abdicated government here by declaring us out of his pro- 
tection, and waging war against us. 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, 
and destroyed the lives of our people. 

He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mercena- 
ries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already 
begun, with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled 
in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civi- 
lized nation . 

He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high 
seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners 
of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands. 

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has en- 
deavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless 
Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished 
destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions. 

In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress 
in the most humble terms ; our repeated petitions have been answered 
only by repeated injury. A. prince whose character is thus marked 
by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a 
free people. 

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. 
We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts made by their 
Legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We 
have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and 
settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and mag- 
nanimity, and we have conjured them, by the ties of our common 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 201 

kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably inter- 
rupt our connections and correspondence. They, too, have been 
deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity. We must, therefore, ac- 
quiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation, and hold them, 
as we hold the rest of mankind — enemies in war, in peace friends. 

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, 
in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of 
the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by 
the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish 
and declare that these United States are, and of right ought to be, 
free and independent states ; that they are absolved from all alle- 
giance to the British crown, and that all political connection between 
them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dis- 
solved ; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power 
to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, 
and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of 
right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reli- 
ance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to 
each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. 

The foregoing declaration was, by order of Congress, engrossed, 
and signed by the following members : John Hancock. 

New Hampshire. — Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Mat- 
thew Thornton. 

Massachusetts Bay — Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert 
Treat Paine, El bridge Gerry. 

Rhode Island. — Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery. 

Connecticut— Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William 
Williams, Oliver Wolcott. 

New York. — William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis 
Lewis, Lewis Morris. 

New Jersey. — Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis 
Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark. 

Pennsylvania —Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin 
Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, 
George Tavlor, James Wilson, George Ross. 

Delaware. — Caesar Rodney, George Read\ Thomas M'Kean. 

Maryland. — Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, 
Charles Carroll, of Carroll ton. 

Virginia — George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, The mas 
Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., 
Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton. 

North Carolina — William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John 
Penn. 

South Carolina. — Edward Rutledge, Thomas Hey ward, Jr., 
Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton. 

Georgia— Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton. 



